Metasurfaces typically have sizes much larger than the wavelength yet contain a large number of subwavelength features. Thus, it is difficult to design entire metasurfaces using full-wave simulations. However, without full-wave simulations, most existing design approaches cannot accurately model the interactions between the individual elements comprising the metasurface. Here, we demonstrate an approach for the design of resonant metasurfaces based on coupled-mode theory. Our approach fully describes wave dynamics and coupling in metasurfaces and is much more computationally efficient than full-wave simulations. As an example, we show that the combination of coupled-mode theory and adjoint optimization can be used for the inverse design of high-numerical-aperture (0.9) metalenses with sizes as large as 10000 wavelengths. The computation efficiency of our approach is orders of magnitude faster than full-wave simulations. Complex functionalities such as angle-multiplexed metasurface holograms can also be realized. With its accuracy and efficiency, the proposed framework can be a powerful design tool for large-scale resonant flat-optics devices.

Self-assembled quantum dots possess an intrinsic geometric symmetry. Applying group representation theory, we systematically analyze the symmetric properties of the bound states for ideal pyramid quantum dots, which neglect band mixing and strain effects. We label each bound state by its symmetry group's corresponding irreducible representation and define a concept called the quantum dots' symmetry category. A class of quantum dots with the same irreducible representation sequence of bound states are characterized as belonging to a specific symmetry category. This category concept generally describes the symmetric order of Hilbert space or wavefunction space. We clearly identify the connection between the symmetry category and the geometry of quantum dots by the symmetry category graph or map. The symmetry category change or transition corresponds to an accidental degeneracy of the bound states. The symmetry category and category transition are observable from the photocurrent spectroscopy or optical spectrum. For simplicity's sake, in this paper, we only focus on inter-subband transition spectra, but the methodology can be extended to the inter-band transition cases. We predict that from the spectral measurements, the quantum dots' geometric information may be inversely extracted.

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