Work

Far-field optical classification of subwavelength objects

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Object detection requires localizing and classifying the size and shape of an unknown object. Here we show that artificial-intelligence-enabled analysis of light scattered on objects that are not resolvable by conventional microscopy can be used for their shape classification. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we demonstrate classification with ∼90% accuracy for objects of unknown subwavelength dimensions in the range from λ/6 to λ/2 (where λ is the illumination wavelength) belonging to one of five shape classes. The method can be scaled to applications across the entire electromagnetic spectrum and used in a variety of tasks, such as the detection and study of biological particles, environmental sensing, and device diagnostics.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.558631

Authors: S. Kurdiumov, N. Papasimakis, J. Y. Ou, N. I. Zheludev

Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Language: English

Topic: Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

Funders: National Research Foundation Singapore, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, European Research Council