Adaptive design of nano-scale dielectric structures for photonics

TL;DR

This paper explores adaptive algorithms for designing nano-scale dielectric structures in photonics, enabling precise control of optical transmission properties through local and global layer adjustments.

Contribution

It introduces two novel adaptive algorithms for customizing nano-scale dielectric structures, enhancing the design process for specific optical responses.

Findings

Adaptive algorithms effectively design structures with targeted transmission responses.

Local and global update methods both achieve desired optical filtering effects.

The approaches are versatile for various photonic applications.

Abstract

Using adaptive algorithms, the design of nano-scale dielectric structures for photonic applications is explored. Widths of dielectric layers in a linear array are adjusted to match target responses of optical transmission as a function of energy. Two complementary approaches are discussed. The first approach uses adaptive local random updates and progressively adjusts individual dielectric layer widths. The second approach is based on global updating functions in which large subgroups of layers are adjusted simultaneously. Both schemes are applied to obtain specific target responses of the transmission function within selected energy windows, such as discontinuous cut-off or power-law decay filters close to a photonic band edge. These adaptive algorithms are found to be effective tools in the custom design of nano-scale photonic dielectric structures.