Reverse design approach improves performance and reliability of on-chip spectrometers

In a study published in the journal Engineering, researchers from Nanjing Aerospace University and Zhejiang University pioneer a pioneering approach to on-chip computational spectrometer design that heralds a new era of high-performance, reliable, integrated spectrometers. announced. This innovative inverse design approach represents a dramatic advance in spectrometer technology and addresses long-standing challenges in performance and reproducibility.

Computational spectrometry is emerging as a promising solution for integrated spectrometry, an essential technology for applications ranging from environmental monitoring to medical diagnostics. These devices typically rely on disordered structures to enhance performance and resilience. However, the common way to design such spectrometers, using a brute force random approach, has proven to be inefficient and yields inconsistent and suboptimal results.

A research team led by Ang Li and Yifan Wu tackled these problems head-on by introducing a new inverse design approach that leverages biologically inspired algorithms. Traditionally, inverse design optimizes a single photonic device based on simple performance criteria. This study represents an important advance in addressing complex spectral responses by applying inverse design to complex systems consisting of multiple interrelated components.

The new design approach employs particle swarm optimization (PSO), an algorithm inspired by natural processes such as bird flocking. This biologically inspired technique was specifically tailored for computational spectroscopy and was used to optimize a new type of disordered photonic structure. Unlike previous methods that relied on scattering or absorption effects, this approach uses interference effects, which significantly reduces losses and increases sensitivity.

The results were amazing. The newly designed spectrometer achieved a significant improvement in spectral resolution of 12 times compared to conventional methods.

Additionally, the cross-correlation between filters was reduced by a factor of 4, allowing for more accurate and reliable spectral analysis. The performance of this spectrometer was verified through its application as a spectrum analyzer for a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor, further demonstrating its practicality.

The introduction of this inverse design method represents a major advance in the field of integrated spectrometers. By overcoming the limitations of random design approaches, the new method provides a scalable and cost-effective solution for mass production. Integrating spectrometers into silicon photonics platforms highlights the potential for widespread adoption and provides a path to high-performance spectrometers for a variety of industries.

This development not only increases the practicality of integrated spectrometers, but also opens the door to new applications and improvements in optical technology. The team’s success in applying PSO to complex systems could stimulate further research and innovation in photonics, leading to breakthroughs in other fields such as communications and sensing technologies.

The research team’s work lays a solid foundation for future developments in computational spectrometry. New inverse design approaches are poised to improve both performance and reliability in this area. As this technology evolves, it is expected to transform the way spectral analysis is performed and integrate these tools into a variety of technical applications.