Meta-optics for new approaches to all-optical image processing

Abstract

Meta-optical devices have emerged as promising candidates for all-optical image processing. These devices are of subwavelength size and have the potential to address limitations of current image processing methods including processing speed, energy requirements as well as form factor. We present experimental results demonstrating the use of thin-film absorbers and optical metasurfaces to real-time detection of edges in images and the visualisation of phase objects including human cancer cells. Furthermore, we discuss progress towards the use of meta-optics for ultra-compact wavefront recovery. The findings to be presented have potential for applications in biological live-cell imaging, ultra..