Diffractive optics approach towards subwavelength pixels

TL;DR

This paper introduces a diffractive optics method that leverages high refractive index materials to create subwavelength pixels, surpassing traditional diffraction limits and enabling noise-tolerant imaging with enhanced sensor miniaturization.

Contribution

It demonstrates a novel approach using high index diffractive optics to reduce pixel size below the diffraction limit and encode amplitude and phase information for improved imaging.

Findings

Subwavelength pixel sizes achieved using high index diffractive optics

Enhanced noise tolerance through phase and amplitude encoding

Potential for smaller, more sensitive imaging sensors

Abstract

Pixel size in cameras and other refractive imaging devices is typically limited by the free-space diffraction. However, a vast majority of semiconductor-based detectors are based on materials with substantially high refractive index. We demonstrate that diffractive optics can be used to take advantage of this high refractive index to reduce effective pixel size of the sensors below free-space diffraction limit. At the same time, diffractive systems encode both amplitude and phase information about the incoming beam into multiple pixels, offering the platform for noise-tolerant imaging with dynamical refocusing. We explore the opportunities opened by high index diffractive optics to reduce sensor size and increase signal-to-noise ratio of imaging structures.