Efficient computational design and optimization of dielectric metamaterial devices

Abstract

Dielectric structures composed of many inclusions that manipulate light in ways the bulk materials cannot are commonly seen in the field of metamaterials. In these structures, each inclusion depends on a set of parameters such as location and orientation, which are difficult to ascertain. We propose and implement an optimization-based approach for designing such metamaterials in two dimensions by using a fast boundary element method and a multiple-scattering solver for a given set of parameters. This approach provides the backbone of an automated process for the design and analysis of metamaterials that does not rely on analytical approximations. We demonstrate the validity of our approach with simulations that converge to optimal parameter values and result in substantially better performance.