Abstract: An incident optical beam illuminates a subset of contiguous array of diffraction gratings on a substrate and produces one or more diffracted output beams. The grating array can be arranged so that (i) multiple incident beams result in a contiguous composite solid angle of far-field illumination, (ii) multiple output beams arising from any one incident beam do not overlap in the far field, or (iii) both. The gratings of the array can be arranged to produce a desired far-field illumination intensity profile. The grating array can be arranged so as to suppress or eliminate laser speckle arising from the output beams.

Abstract: Certain examples are directed to optical elements or devices that pass or process the light based on a set of connectable metasurface elements having been topology optimized. The connectable metasurface elements are independently optimized or designed to have each section having its own metasurface phase profile corresponding to a desired phase profile. In this way, such devices need not be designed or manufactured by importing a large number of results into simulation efforts, thereby realizing significant saving in terms of optimization time and computational power.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of gratings for an optical device structure are provided. The method utilizes a high refractive index material and a metallic coating.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe waveguides having device structures with multiple portions and methods of forming the waveguide having multiportion device structures. The plurality of device structures are formed having two or more portions. The materials of the plurality of portions are chosen such that impedance matching is enabled between the portions to reduce reflection of light from the optical device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to metasurface devices and methods of forming metasurfaces. The metasurface devices include a plurality of device structures. Each of the device structures are formed from multiple layers, at least one of which is an impedance matching layer. The impedance matching layer may be formed as either an inner impedance matching layer between the substrate and the device layer or as a separate outer impedance matching layer on top of the device layer. The refractive indices of the impedance matching layers are chosen to be between the refractive index of the mediums on either side of the impedance matching layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure waveguides having device structures with a metallized portion and a method of forming the waveguide having device structures with the metallized portion are described herein. The plurality of device structures are formed having a device portion and a metallized portion. The metallized portion is disposed over at least a device portion surface of the device portion such that a plurality of gaps are disposed between the plurality of device structures.

Abstract: An optical element includes a substrate, an intermediate layer, a topmost layer, and a contiguous multitude of recessed and non-recessed areal regions. The intermediate layer is formed over a top surface of the substrate and has a refractive index ?I. The topmost layer is formed directly on the intermediate layer and has a refractive index ?T where ?T ? ?I. The intermediate and topmost layers are substantially transparent over an operational wavelength range that includes a design wavelength ?0. A subset of areal regions has a largest transverse dimension less than about ?0. Each non-recessed areal region includes corresponding portions of the intermediate and topmost layers. Each recessed areal region extends entirely through the topmost layer and at least partly through the intermediate layer. A fill medium fills the recessed areal regions. The areal regions are variously sized and distributed transversely across the optical element.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus and methods of forming and/or using an apparatus comprising a plurality of device components. An example method includes geometrically optimizing a periodic or aperiodic device comprising a plurality of device components by optimizing a topology, for each device component, from a starting point to have particular optical properties for a particular optical response. Each device component includes a plurality of geometric structures. The optimization includes selecting the starting point for a continuous profile to have the particular optical properties for the particular optical response, iteratively converging the continuous profile to a discrete profile, and, while iteratively converging to the discrete profile, adjusting edges between boundaries of the device components by accounting for fabrication constraints.

Abstract: Incident optical signals propagate within a diffuser substrate and impinge upon an optical diffuser within the diffuser substrate or on its output surface. The optical diffuser redirects or transforms respective portions of each incident signal into corresponding forward- and backward-directed optical signals. The backward-directed signals are redirected or transformed into additional incident signals, and so on. The forward-directed optical signals collectively form the optical output of an illumination source that exhibits reduced speckle. The illumination source can include multiple laser sources formed on or attached to an input surface of the diffuser substrate.

Abstract: An optical element includes a substrate, an intermediate layer, a topmost layer, and a contiguous multitude of recessed and non-recessed areal regions. The intermediate layer is formed over a top surface of the substrate and has a refractive index nI. The topmost layer is formed directly on the intermediate layer and has a refractive index nT where nT?nI. The intermediate and topmost layers are substantially transparent over an operational wavelength range that includes a design wavelength ?0. A subset of areal regions has a largest transverse dimension less than about ?0. Each non-recessed areal region includes corresponding portions of the intermediate and topmost layers. Each recessed areal region extends entirely through the topmost layer and at least partly through the intermediate layer. A fill medium fills the recessed areal regions. The areal regions are variously sized and distributed transversely across the optical element.

Abstract: An incident optical beam illuminates a subset of contiguous array of diffraction gratings on a substrate and produces one or more diffracted output beams. The grating array can be arranged so that (i) multiple incident beams result in a contiguous composite solid angle of far-field illumination, (ii) multiple output beams arising from any one incident beam do not overlap in the far field, or (iii) both. The gratings of the array can be arranged to produce a desired far-field illumination intensity profile. The grating array can be arranged so as to suppress or eliminate laser speckle arising from the output beams.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus and methods of forming and/or using an apparatus comprising a plurality of device components. An example method includes geometrically optimizing a periodic or aperiodic device comprising a plurality of device components by optimizing a topology, for each device component, from a starting point to have particular optical properties for a particular optical response. Each device component includes a plurality of geometric structures. The optimization includes selecting the starting point for a continuous profile to have the particular optical properties for the particular optical response, iteratively converging the continuous profile to a discrete profile, and, while iteratively converging to the discrete profile, adjusting edges between boundaries of the device components by accounting for fabrication constraints.

Abstract: Incident optical signals propagate within a diffuser substrate and impinge upon an optical diffuser within the diffuser substrate or on its output surface. The optical diffuser redirects or transforms respective portions of each incident signal into corresponding forward- and backward-directed optical signals. The backward-directed signals are redirected or transformed into additional incident signals, and so on. The forward-directed optical signals collectively form the optical output of an illumination source that exhibits reduced speckle. The illumination source can include multiple laser sources formed on or attached to an input surface of the diffuser substrate.

Abstract: An optical element includes a substrate, an intermediate layer, a topmost layer, and a contiguous multitude of recessed and non-recessed areal regions. The intermediate layer is formed over a top surface of the substrate and has a refractive index nI. The topmost layer is formed directly on the intermediate layer and has a refractive index nT where nT?nI. The intermediate and topmost layers are substantially transparent over an operational wavelength range that includes a design wavelength ?0. A subset of areal regions has a largest transverse dimension less than about ?0. Each non-recessed areal region includes corresponding portions of the intermediate and topmost layers. Each recessed areal region extends entirely through the topmost layer and at least partly through the intermediate layer. A fill medium fills the recessed areal regions. The areal regions are variously sized and distributed transversely across the optical element.

Abstract: Certain examples are directed to optical elements or devices that pass or process the light based on a set of connectable metasurface elements having been topology optimized. The connectable metasurface elements are independently optimized or designed to have each section having its own metasurface phase profile corresponding to a desired phase profile. In this way, such devices need not be designed or manufactured by importing a large number of results into simulation efforts, thereby realizing significant saving in terms of optimization time and computational power.

Abstract: An incident optical beam illuminates a subset of contiguous array of diffraction gratings on a substrate and produces one or more diffracted output beams. The grating array can be arranged so that (i) multiple incident beams result in a contiguous composite solid angle of far-field illumination, (ii) multiple output beams arising from any one incident beam do not overlap in the far field, or (iii) both. The gratings of the array can be arranged to produce a desired far-field illumination intensity profile. The grating array can be arranged so as to suppress or eliminate laser speckle arising from the output beams.

Abstract: Incident optical signals propagate within a diffuser substrate and impinge upon an optical diffuser within the diffuser substrate or on its output surface. The optical diffuser redirects or transforms respective portions of each incident signal into corresponding forward- and backward-directed optical signals. The backward-directed signals are redirected or transformed into additional incident signals, and so on. The forward-directed optical signals collectively form the optical output of an illumination source that exhibits reduced speckle. The illumination source can include multiple laser sources formed on or attached to an input surface of the diffuser substrate.

Abstract: Incident optical signals propagate within a diffuser substrate and impinge upon an optical diffuser within the diffuser substrate or on its output surface. The optical diffuser redirects or transforms respective portions of each incident signal into corresponding forward- and backward-directed optical signals. The backward-directed signals are redirected or transformed into additional incident signals, and so on. The forward-directed optical signals collectively form the optical output of an illumination source that exhibits reduced speckle. The illumination source can include multiple laser sources formed on or attached to an input surface of the diffuser substrate.

Abstract: Input optical signals propagate toward first optical diffuser, resulting in first-forward-directed optical signals that propagate toward a second optical diffuser, in turn resulting in second forward-directed optical signals. The second forward-directed optical signals collectively form the optical output of an illumination source that appears to emanate from an enlarged extended source and exhibits reduced speckle. The illumination source can include multiple laser sources formed on or attached to the first optical diffuser.

Abstract: An optical element includes a substrate, an intermediate layer, a topmost layer, and a contiguous multitude of recessed and non-recessed areal regions. The intermediate layer is formed over a top surface of the substrate and has a refractive index nI. The topmost layer is formed directly on the intermediate layer and has a refractive index nT where nT?nI. The intermediate and topmost layers are substantially transparent over an operational wavelength range that includes a design wavelength ?0. A subset of areal regions has a largest transverse dimension less than about ?0. Each non-recessed areal region includes corresponding portions of the intermediate and topmost layers. Each recessed areal region extends entirely through the topmost layer and at least partly through the intermediate layer. A fill medium fills the recessed areal regions. The areal regions are variously sized and distributed transversely across the optical element.