MetaNet: a new paradigm for data sharing in photonics research

Abstract

Optimization methods are playing an increasingly important role in all facets of photonics engineering, from integrated photonics to free space diffractive optics. However, efforts in the photonics community to develop optimization algorithms remain uncoordinated, which has hindered proper benchmarking of design approaches and access to device designs based on optimization. We introduce MetaNet, an online database of photonic devices and design codes intended to promote coordination and collaboration within the photonics community.Using metagratings as a model system, we have uploaded over one hundred thousand device layouts to the database, as well as source code for implementations of local and global topology optimization methods. Further analyses of these large datasets allow the distribution of optimized devices to be visualized for a given optimization method. We expect that the coordinated research efforts enabled by MetaNet will expedite algorithm development for photonics design.

Dielectric Metalens: Properties and Three-Dimensional Imaging Applications

“…As introduced in Section 2 , the basic design methods of dielectric metalens have been limited to the two semi-analytical approaches (geometric phase and propagation phase) in which dielectric nanoantennas are considered as single- or dual-mode waveguides. However, recently, the photonic inverse design methods by numerically optimizing arbitrary geometry of nanoantennas have been successfully verified via advanced electromagnetic optimization [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 ] and machine learning techniques [ 67 , 68 , 69 ]. Based on elaborate combination of the fast electromagnetic simulation methods and the robust frameworks of optimization and learning, improvements including bandwidth, NA, diffraction efficiency, and aberration correction have been achieved in a single flat optic device [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ].…”

Inverse design of plasma metamaterial devices for optical computing

“…When used in conjunction with circularly polarized light, gaseous plasmas are capable of achieving ε r > 1, opening the door to even more complex logical operations. While several tools exist for the simulation and inverse design of photonic devices [33], more development is required on the application of inverse design to magnetized PMMs to incorporate such physics. Even these non-magnetized simulations can be further refined by adding collisionality (loss) and non-uniform plasma density profiles to the simulation.…”

Deep Learning the Electromagnetic Properties of Metamaterials—A Comprehensive Review

“…Furthermore, it should be encouraged that researchers explore the performance of their new methodologies on previously published datasets. This need for sharing research and fostering community engagement has led to the establishment of new open source and online repositories, in both the AEM community (Metanet [ 224 ] ) as well as the greater ML community. [ 225 ]…”