Meta-Surface Design: How to Catch the Next Wave in Optics

Nano-structured meta-surfaces offer a pathway to functionalities that were out of reach for well-known refractive and reflective optics. Careful design of sub-wavelength structures allows the creation of systems that are smaller, lighter, and manufacturable with semiconductor processes. For this reason, meta-surfaces are widely regarded as the next step in optical systems for sensors, filter, beam shaping, augmented reality and much more.

But nothing is perfect and successful design requires balancing trade-offs in the system. Penninck will cover meta-surface design from the basic principles and how to design nano-structures to integrating them in a system in manufacturable designs.

The differences in size involved in meta-surface design necessitate a multi-scale modelling approach. Sub-wavelength structures are modelled using full solutions to Maxwell’s equations while components are handled in physical optics, co-optimization of systems is finally treated using geometric optics. This webinar will cover how to include the unique possibilities of meta-surfaces in the design through integration of these different modelling techniques.

About the presenter
Lieven Penninck, Ph.D., is an expert on optical modelling methods focusing on meta-surfaces and nano-photonics. In 2019 he founded PlanOpSim to develop and offer numerical simulation software for the design of metasurfaces, metalenses, and planar optics.

Aside from software development, PlanOpSim also provides optical design services to the photonics and optics industry. He holds a doctorate in photonics engineering from Ghent University on development of simulation methods for OLED and liquid crystal devices.

Outside of academia, he worked on LCD display research & development, along with simulation and measurement of OLEDs and solar cells in various roles.