Why optics needs thickness and how much it needs

David A. B. Miller

doi:10.1117/12.2676518

4 October 2023 Why optics needs thickness and how much it needs

David A. B. Miller

Proceedings Volume PC12646, Metamaterials, Metadevices, and Metasystems 2023; PC1264604 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2676518
Event: SPIE Nanoscience + Engineering, 2023, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We show that optical systems, from imagers to sophisticated metasurfaces, require a minimum thickness. Hence, for example, one thin metasurface layer may not be enough for many optical functions. This thickness arises whenever the input regions for different output pixels overlap. Even before starting design, just from what the optics is to do, we can deduce an overlapping non-locality number C that says how many channels must flow sideways inside the system. The system needs thickness to allow those channels to propagate sideways inside the structure. Several optimized system designs approach this limit but do not surpass it.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

David A. B. Miller "Why optics needs thickness and how much it needs", Proc. SPIE PC12646, Metamaterials, Metadevices, and Metasystems 2023, PC1264604 (4 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2676518

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