Background
At the Optics Department of TNO Delft, a research program on the development of non conventional lenses that can beat the diffraction limit has been initiated in the last years. Super-oscillatory lenses (SOL) represent an extremely interesting solution allowing the generation of focused spots beyond the diffraction limit, without the need to operate in the extremely close proximity of the object to be imaged. These lenses consist of properly designed scattering surfaces (typically slot rings) which generate interference patterns where the signal oscillates locally faster than the highest Fourier component excited by the structure. SOLs, together optical metalenses, are considered key revolutionary technologies for the development of a new generation of sensing/metrology instruments.
Project description
TNO has developed a software package for the analysis of SOLs, based on the Angular Spectrum Method. The main objective of this project is to develop an optimization procedure to be coupled to this software package and to apply the resulting design tool to the synthesis of different SOL structures. The project will give to the student the possibility to study the physic principles behind the super oscillatory phenomenon and to perform the synthesis of different structures. The manufacturing aspects of the various designs will be investigated and one concept will be selected for production. The selected structure will be manufactured and tested. The analysis of the test results and the definition of possible improvements or correction actions will conclude the project.
Project organization
The work in this project will be conducted at the Optics Department of the TNO Delft premises and will be supervised by Prof. dr. G. Gerini. A second supervisor will be appointed from the EM group and will provide regular consultancy and support to the project.MSc Final Project
The manufacturing and testing of the hardware demonstrator will be carried out at TNO. The student will be exposed to a multi-disciplinary environment and will have the opportunity to discuss and co-operate also with other experts and members of the Department.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Giampiero Gerini; g.gerini@tue.nl