Researcher(s)
- Alexander Vargas, Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Mario Mencagli, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
In the contemporary digital age, digital signal processors (DSPs) are predominately used for performing complex computational tasks, yet feature notable drawbacks due to their rigid design. Their heavy limitations including their slow processing speeds, power inefficiency, and added complexity due to A/D (analog, digital) conversion leave much to be desired. With these restrictions in mind, interest has been garnered specifically in wave-based computing as a promising approach for resource-intensive processing with the usage of metamaterials (MTMs) and metasurfaces (MTSs) acting as analog computing platforms. These artificially engineered materials allow for ultra-fast processing and massive parallel operations, useful for carrying out such demanding tasks.
The following work specifically explores the application of metasurfaces for analog optical computing, focusing on their potential to behave as mathematical platforms capable of carrying out operations such as nth order differentiation or integration. By modeling the metasurfaces as RLC networks, we can tailor their response to match ideal differentiators in both magnitude and phase. Thus, allowing for mathematical operation execution on incoming electromagnetic incident fields, effectively manipulating their physical properties as desired. To conclude, the presented research combines theoretical understanding with practical simulations, demonstrating the potential of using these subwavelength structures for wave-based analog computing.