Diffractive Optics and Its Emerging Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Diffraction is a type of fundamental interaction between light and matter. The discovery and studies of diffraction over the past centuries not only revealed the wave nature of electromagnetic radiation but also enabled numerous groundbreaking technological advancements. Diffractive optical elements are known to bend and shape light waves in most exotic and unconventional ways by imposing spatial modulation of wave fronts. However, only spatial features with wavelength or sub-wavelength sizes can induce observable diffraction effects, posing potential challenges in the simulation and fabrication of diffractive components. These structured surfaces have been deployed in imaging and non-imaging systems to either enhance optical performances or enable novel capabilities. The past decade has seen an explosion in the applications of engineered diffractive devices in augmented/virtual reality, LiDAR, computational imaging, machine vision, and optical computing. Compared with the traditional refractive optics, diffractive elements are advantageous in their ultra-compact footprint and high degrees of design flexibility. Additionally, diffractive structures made by phase-change materials can be reconfigured and even programmed.

This Special Issue aims to cover recent progress in diffractive optics technology. We encourage submission of original research that develops new designs, structures, materials, models, optimization methods, and fabrication techniques in diffractive optics and its most diverse and exciting applications. Review papers on emerging topics in diffractive optics are also welcome.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following areas:

1. Theory and modeling of diffractive optics;
2. Optimization algorithms;
3. Diffractive + refractive hybrid systems;
4. New capabilities and performance enhancements;
5. Metasurfaces and metalenses;
6. Diffractive optical elements for imaging, sensing, and spectroscopy;
7. Applications in AR/VR, LiDAR, machine vision, intraocular lenses, computational imaging, etc.;
8. Diffractive neural networks and free-space optical computing;
9. Novel fabrication and replication techniques;
10. Reconfigurable and programmable photonic devices.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Peng Wang
Dr. Apratim Majumder
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• diffractive optics
• simulation and optimization
• fabrication and replication
• computational imaging and machine vision
• AR/VR and LiDAR
• diffractive optical computing
• reconfigurable diffractive device