Hybrid model to simulate optical systems combining metasurfaces and classical refractive elements.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Computational Electromagnetics
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Metasurfaces offer novel optical functionalities but integrating them into system design is challenging.
• Accurate and efficient modeling is crucial for optimizing optical systems containing metasurfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fast and accurate numerical method for computing the imaging performance of optical systems with metasurfaces.
• To enable the direct design of full optical systems, including metasurfaces, within an optimization loop.

Main Methods:

• Approximating metasurface optical response using a surrogate model based on meta-atom properties.
• Employing generalized Snell's law and a hybrid ray/wave optics model for system performance calculation.
• Accounting for diffraction effects at metasurfaces using the hybrid model.

Main Results:

• The developed numerical method accurately predicts the imaging performance of centimeter-scale optical systems with metasurfaces.
• A hybrid ray/wave optics model is essential for accurate modulus transfer function prediction in systems with high-power metasurfaces.
• The surrogate model facilitates the inclusion of metasurfaces in optimization design loops.

Conclusions:

• The proposed numerical method enables efficient and accurate design of optical systems incorporating metasurfaces.
• The hybrid model provides necessary physical accuracy for systems with significant metasurface optical power.
• This work advances the direct design of complex optical systems leveraging metasurface technology.