摘要
The evolution of high value manufacturing is being driven by a technological move to smart and sustainable manufacturing processes. Central to this transition are the combination of two technologies: digital twins which are used to virtualise underlying physical processes; and machine learning which can enhance process control and decision-making. A fundamental requirement of these technologies is real-time data, acquired during each stage of a manufacturing process chain. The need for high data-acquisition rates, sensitivity and non-contact operation are broadly satisfied by modern optical sensors, but sensor integration and cost remain persistent challenges that difficult to address using conventional (bulk) optical systems.
Metasurfaces, artificially structured surfaces covered in sub-wavelength elements, provide a way in which amplitude, phase, and polarisation light can be precisely manipulated, but without the size and weight required by traditional optical components. In addition, metasurfaces can be manufactured on membranes or thin substrates and by modifying the size and shape of the individual elements across a surface, different functionalities can be realised.
This talk will report on recent developments of metasurfaces for precision metrology applications and outline how photonic metasurfaces have the potential to revolutionise optical sensor technology by supporting sensor integration through miniaturisation and enhanced functionality. Finally, we discuss some of the challenges for harnessing photonic metasurface as engineered components in real-world systems and articulate the research challenges and opportunities for future precision metrology.
