Subwavelength angle-sensing photodetectors inspired by directional hearing in small animals

Self-Assembled Subwavelength Nanophotonic Structures for Spatial Object Localization and Tracking

Subwavelength resonant nanostructures have facilitated strong light-matter interactions and tunable degrees of freedom of light, such as spectrum, polarization, and direction, thus boosting photonic applications toward light emission, manipulation, and detection. For photodetection, resonant nanostructures have enabled emerging technologies, such as light detection and ranging, spectrometers, and polarimeters, within an ultracompact footprint. However, resonant nanophotonics usually relies on nanofabrication technology, which suffers from the trade-offs between precision and scalability. Here, we first realize the self-assembly of subwavelength resonant nanostructures of metal-halide perovskites for spatial object localization and tracking. By steering crystallization along capillary corner bridges localized at edges, we achieve single crystallinity, subwavelength size, and resonant coupling between perovskite nanowires, thus leading to an angle-resolved photodetector with an angular resolution of 0.523°. Furthermore, we integrate multiple pairs of coupled resonant nanowires along two orthogonal orientations to form angle-resolved photodetector arrays for spatial light localization of both static and moving objects with an error of less than 0.6 cm. These findings create a platform for self-assembled resonant nanostructures, thus paving the way for multifunctional nanophotonic and optoelectronic devices.

Filterless vector light field photodetector based on photonic-electronic co-designed non-Hermitian silicon nanostructures

Recent advances in near-field interference detection, inspired by the non-Hermitian coupling-induced directional sensing of Ormia ochracea, have demonstrated the potential of paired semiconductor nanowires for compact light field detection without optical filters. However, practical implementation faces significant challenges including limited active area, architectural scaling constraints, and incomplete characterization of angular and polarization information. Here, we demonstrate a filterless vector light field photodetector, leveraging the angle- and polarization-sensitive near-field interference of non-Hermitian semiconductor nanostructures. Our design unit comprises four devices, each containing identical silicon nanowires but varying in orientation and electric connection configuration, of which the four-dimensional photoconductive output can be uniquely mapped to key vector light field parameters: intensity, polar angle, azimuth angle, and the linear polarization difference (Stokes parameter, S 1). Optimization of the geometry and doping concentration of these optoelectronic nanostructures yields a theoretical polar angle detectivity of 4 × 10-5 °/Hz0.5. This work establishes a paradigm for multi-output photodetectors with full-rank response matrices for multi-dimensional light field characterization, paving the way for integrated vector light field sensing systems.

Optoelectronic metadevices

Metasurfaces have introduced new opportunities in photonic design by offering unprecedented, nanoscale control over optical wavefronts. These artificially structured layers have largely been used to passively manipulate the flow of light by controlling its phase, amplitude, and polarization. However, they can also dynamically modulate these quantities and manipulate fundamental light absorption and emission processes. These valuable traits can extend their application domain to chipscale optoelectronics and conceptually new optical sources, displays, spatial light modulators, photodetectors, solar cells, and imaging systems. New opportunities and challenges have also emerged in the materials and device integration with existing technologies. This Review aims to consolidate the current research landscape and provide perspectives on metasurface capabilities specific to optoelectronic devices, giving new direction to future research and development efforts in academia and industry.

3D Light-Direction Sensor Based on Segmented Concentric Nanorings Combined with Deep Learning

High-precision, ultra-thin angular detectable imaging upon a single pixel holds significant promise for light-field detection and reconstruction, thereby catalyzing advancements in machine vision and interaction technology. Traditional light-direction angle sensors relying on optical components like gratings and lenses face inherent constraints from diffraction limits in achieving device miniaturization. Recently, angle sensors via coupled double nanowires have demonstrated prowess in attaining high-precision angle perception of incident light at sub-wavelength device scales, which may herald a novel design paradigm for ultra-compact angle sensors. However, the current approach to measuring the three-dimensional (3D) incident light direction is unstable. In this paper, we propose a sensor concept capable of discerning the 3D light-direction based on a segmented concentric nanoring structure that is sensitive to both elevation angle (θ) and azimuth angle (ϕ) at a micrometer device scale and is validated through simulations. Through deep learning (DL) analysis and prediction, our simulations reveal that for angle scanning with a step size of 1°, the device can still achieve a detection range of 0∼360° for ϕ and 45°∼90° for θ, with an average accuracy of 0.19°, and DL can further solve some data aliasing problems to expand the sensing range. Our design broadens the angle sensing dimension based on mutual resonance coupling among nanoring segments, and through waveguide implementation or sensor array arrangements, the detection range can be flexibly adjusted to accommodate diverse application scenarios.

High performance few-mode fiber-based light field direction sensing system using deep convolutional neural network: fiber speckle demodulation network (FSDNET)

Precisely sensing the light field direction information plays the essential role in the fields of three-dimensional (3D) imaging, light field sensing, target positioning and tracking, remote sensing, etc. It is thrilling to find that the optical fiber can be used as a sensing component due to its high sensitivity, compact size, and strong resistance to electromagnetic interference. According to the core principle that the few-mode fiber output speckle pattern is sensitive to the change of incident light field direction, the variation characteristics is further investigated in this research study. Based on the simulation and analysis of the fiber transmission characteristics, the output speckle corresponding to the incident light field with the direction in the range of ±6° horizontally and vertically are calculated. Furthermore, a deep convolutional neural network (CNN): fiber speckle demodulation network (FSDNET) is proposed and constructed to establish what we believe to be a novel way to reveal and identify the mapping relationship between the light field direction and the output speckle. The theoretical simulation shows that the mean absolute error (MAE) between the perceived light field directions and the true directions is 0.01°. Then, a light field direction sensing system based on the few-mode fiber is developed. Regarding to the performance of the sensing system, the MAE of the FSDNET for the light field directions that have appeared in the training set is 0.0389°, and for testing set of the unknown directions that have not appeared in the training set, the MAE is 0.0570°. Therefore, the simulation and experimental results prove that high performance sensing of light field direction can be achieved by the proposed few-mode fiber sensing system and the FSDNET.

Multifunctional Perovskite Photodetectors: From Molecular-Scale Crystal Structure Design to Micro/Nano-scale Morphology Manipulation

Multifunctional photodetectors boost the development of traditional optical communication technology and emerging artificial intelligence fields, such as robotics and autonomous driving. However, the current implementation of multifunctional detectors is based on the physical combination of optical lenses, gratings, and multiple photodetectors, the large size and its complex structure hinder the miniaturization, lightweight, and integration of devices. In contrast, perovskite materials have achieved remarkable progress in the field of multifunctional photodetectors due to their diverse crystal structures, simple morphology manipulation, and excellent optoelectronic properties. In this review, we first overview the crystal structures and morphology manipulation techniques of perovskite materials and then summarize the working mechanism and performance parameters of multifunctional photodetectors. Furthermore, the fabrication strategies of multifunctional perovskite photodetectors and their advancements are highlighted, including polarized light detection, spectral detection, angle-sensing detection, and self-powered detection. Finally, the existing problems of multifunctional detectors and the perspectives of their future development are presented.

The continued importance of comparative auditory research to modern scientific discovery

A rich history of comparative research in the auditory field has afforded a synthetic view of sound information processing by ears and brains. Some organisms have proven to be powerful models for human hearing due to fundamental similarities (e.g., well-matched hearing ranges), while others feature intriguing differences (e.g., atympanic ears) that invite further study. Work across diverse "non-traditional" organisms, from small mammals to avians to amphibians and beyond, continues to propel auditory science forward, netting a variety of biomedical and technological advances along the way. In this brief review, limited primarily to tetrapod vertebrates, we discuss the continued importance of comparative studies in hearing research from the periphery to central nervous system with a focus on outstanding questions such as mechanisms for sound capture, peripheral and central processing of directional/spatial information, and non-canonical auditory processing, including efferent and hormonal effects.

X-ray-to-visible light-field detection through pixelated colour conversion

Light-field detection measures both the intensity of light rays and their precise direction in free space. However, current light-field detection techniques either require complex microlens arrays or are limited to the ultraviolet-visible light wavelength ranges^1-4. Here we present a robust, scalable method based on lithographically patterned perovskite nanocrystal arrays that can be used to determine radiation vectors from X-rays to visible light (0.002-550 nm). With these multicolour nanocrystal arrays, light rays from specific directions can be converted into pixelated colour outputs with an angular resolution of 0.0018°. We find that three-dimensional light-field detection and spatial positioning of light sources are possible by modifying nanocrystal arrays with specific orientations. We also demonstrate three-dimensional object imaging and visible light and X-ray phase-contrast imaging by combining pixelated nanocrystal arrays with a colour charge-coupled device. The ability to detect light direction beyond optical wavelengths through colour-contrast encoding could enable new applications, for example, in three-dimensional phase-contrast imaging, robotics, virtual reality, tomographic biological imaging and satellite autonomous navigation.

Radiative anti-parity-time plasmonics

Space and guided electromagnetic waves, as widely known, are two crucial cornerstones in extensive wireless and integrated applications respectively. To harness the two cornerstones, radiative and integrated devices are usually developed in parallel based on the same physical principles. An emerging mechanism, i.e., anti-parity-time (APT) symmetry originated from non-Hermitian quantum mechanics, has led to fruitful phenomena in harnessing guided waves. However, it is still absent in harnessing space waves. Here, we propose a radiative plasmonic APT design to harness space waves, and experimentally demonstrate it with subwavelength designer-plasmonic structures. We observe two exotic phenomena unrealized previously. Rotating polarizations of incident space waves, we realize polarization-controlled APT phase transition. Tuning incidence angles, we observe multi-stage APT phase transition in higher-order APT systems, constructed by using the scalability of leaky-wave couplings. Our scheme shows promise in demonstrating novel APT physics, and constructing APT-symmetry-empowered radiative devices.

Angle-based wavefront sensing enabled by the near fields of flat optics

There is a long history of using angle sensors to measure wavefront. The best example is the Shack-Hartmann sensor. Compared to other methods of wavefront sensing, angle-based approach is more broadly used in industrial applications and scientific research. Its wide adoption is attributed to its fully integrated setup, robustness, and fast speed. However, there is a long-standing issue in its low spatial resolution, which is limited by the size of the angle sensor. Here we report a angle-based wavefront sensor to overcome this challenge. It uses ultra-compact angle sensor built from flat optics. It is directly integrated on focal plane array. This wavefront sensor inherits all the benefits of the angle-based method. Moreover, it improves the spatial sampling density by over two orders of magnitude. The drastically improved resolution allows angle-based sensors to be used for quantitative phase imaging, enabling capabilities such as video-frame recording of high-resolution surface topography.

Generally, wavefronts are measured using angle-based sensors like the Shack-Hartmann sensor. Here, the authors present an angle-sensitive device that uses flat optics integrated on a focal plane array for compact wavefront sensing with improved resolution.

In Operando Visualization of Interfacial Band Bending in Photomultiplying Organic Photodetectors

Charge injection is a basic transport process that strongly affects performance of optoelectronic devices such as light-emitting diodes and photodetectors. In these devices, the charge injection barrier is related to the band bending at the active layer/electrode interface and exhibits sophisticated dependence on interface structure and device operating conditions, making it difficult to determine via either theoretical prediction or experimental measurements. Here, in operando cross-sectional scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) has been applied in organic photodetectors to visualize the interfacial band bending. The photoinduced interfacial band bending becomes more significant with increasing reverse bias voltage, resulting in reduced charge injection barrier and facilitated charge injection. The photoinduced injection current is orders of magnitude higher than the photocurrent directly generated from light absorption and thus leads to significant photomultiplication. Furthermore, the interfacial structure is tuned to further enhance photoinduced interfacial band bending and the photomultiplication factor.

Direct assembly of nanowires by electron beam-induced dielectrophoresis

Controllable self-assembly is an important tool to investigate interactions between nanoscale objects. Here we present an assembly strategy based on 3D aligned silicon nanowires. By illuminating the tips of nanowires locally by a focused electron beam, an attractive dielectrophoretic force can be induced, leading to elastic deformations and sticking between adjacent nanowires. The whole process is performed feasibly inside a vacuum environment free from capillary or hydrodynamic forces. Assembly mechanisms are discussed for nanowires in both one and two layers, and various ordered organizations are presented. With the help of moisture treatment, a hierarchical assembly can also be achieved. Notably, an unsynchronized assembly is observed in two layers of nanowires. This study helps with a better understanding of nanoscale sticking phenomena and electrostatic actuations in nanoelectromechanical systems, besides, it also provides possibilities to probe quantum effects like Casimir forces and phonon heat transport in a vacuum gap.

Optical metasurface composed of multiple antennas with anti-Hermitian coupling in a single layer

Metasurfaces consisting of different shapes of resonant units are used to manipulate light beams at subwavelength scales. In many cases, interactions among the resonant units are suppressed or avoided because of mode splitting in metasurfaces. Here we theoretically and numerically investigate metasurfaces composed of multiple antennas with anti-Hermitian coupling in a single layer. By utilizing the anti-Hermitian coupling, the results show that antennas with similar resonance frequencies at a subwavelength distance can individually absorb their corresponding frequency photons. The antennas whose reflection phase can be tailored by changing the number of antennas have the same resonance frequencies. This Letter paves the way for various potential applications in broadband absorption, photon sorting, image sensors, and phase modulation.

Biologically Inspired Scalable-Manufactured Dual-layer Coating with a Hierarchical Micropattern for Highly Efficient Passive Radiative Cooling and Robust Superhydrophobicity

Bioinspired materials for temperature regulation have proven to be promising for passive radiation cooling, and super water repellency is also a main feature of biological evolution. However, the scalable production of artificial passive radiative cooling materials with self-adjusting structures, high-efficiency, strong applicability, and low cost, along with achieving superhydrophobicity simultaneously remains a challenge. Here, a biologically inspired passive radiative cooling dual-layer coating (Bio-PRC) is synthesized by a facile but efficient strategy, after the discovery of long-horned beetles' thermoregulatory behavior with multiscale fluffs, where an adjustable polymer-like layer with a hierarchical micropattern is constructed in various ceramic bottom skeletons, integrating multifunctional components with interlaced "ridge-like" architectures. The Bio-PRC coating reflects above 88% of solar irradiance and demonstrates an infrared emissivity >0.92, which makes the temperature drop by up to 3.6 °C under direct sunlight. Moreover, the hierarchical micro-/nanostructures also endow it with a superhydrophobic surface that has enticing damage resistance, thermal stability, and weatherability. Notably, we demonstrate that the Bio-PRC coatings can be potentially applied in the insulated gate bipolar transistor radiator, for effective temperature conditioning. Meanwhile, the coverage of the dense, super water-repellent top polymer-like layer can prevent the transport of corrosive liquids, ions, and electron transition, illustrating the excellent interdisciplinary applicability of our coatings. This work paves a new way to design next-generation thermal regulation coatings with great potential for applications.

Nanophotonics for light detection and ranging technology

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, a laser-based imaging technique for accurate distance measurement, is considered one of the most crucial sensor technologies for autonomous vehicles, artificially intelligent robots and unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance. Until recently, LiDAR has relied on light sources and detectors mounted on multiple mechanically rotating optical transmitters and receivers to cover an entire scene. Such an architecture gives rise to limitations in terms of the imaging frame rate and resolution. In this Review, we examine how novel nanophotonic platforms could overcome the hardware restrictions of existing LiDAR technologies. After briefly introducing the basic principles of LiDAR, we present the device specifications required by the industrial sector. We then review a variety of LiDAR-relevant nanophotonic approaches such as integrated photonic circuits, optical phased antenna arrays and flat optical devices based on metasurfaces. The latter have already demonstrated exceptional functional beam manipulation properties, such as active beam deflection, point-cloud generation and device integration using scalable manufacturing methods, and are expected to disrupt modern optical technologies. In the outlook, we address the upcoming physics and engineering challenges that must be overcome from the viewpoint of incorporating nanophotonic technologies into commercially viable, fast, ultrathin and lightweight LiDAR systems.

Zero-bias mid-infrared graphene photodetectors with bulk photoresponse and calibration-free polarization detection

Bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE), featuring polarization-dependent uniform photoresponse at zero external bias, holds potential for exceeding the Shockley-Queisser limit in the efficiency of existing opto-electronic devices. However, the implementation of BPVE has been limited to the naturally existing materials with broken inversion symmetry, such as ferroelectrics, which suffer low efficiencies. Here, we propose metasurface-mediated graphene photodetectors with cascaded polarization-sensitive photoresponse under uniform illumination, mimicking an artificial BPVE. With the assistance of non-centrosymmetric metallic nanoantennas, the hot photocarriers in graphene gain a momentum upon their excitation and form a shift current which is nonlocal and directional. Thereafter, we demonstrate zero-bias uncooled mid-infrared photodetectors with three orders higher responsivity than conventional BPVE and a noise equivalent power of 0.12 nW Hz^−1/2. Besides, we observe a vectorial photoresponse which allows us to detect the polarization angle of incident light with a single device. Our strategy opens up alternative possibilities for scalable, low-cost, multifunctional infrared photodetectors.

Here, graphene-based plasmonic metamaterials are used to generate an artificial bulk photovoltaic effect, enabling the realization of mid-infrared photodetectors with enhanced responsivity and calibration-free polarization detection at room temperature.

Environment-Adaptable Photonic-Electronic-Coupled Neuromorphic Angular Visual System

Environment-adaptable photonic-electronic-coupled devices can help overcome major challenges related to the extraction of highly specific angular information, such as human visual perception. However, a true implementation of such a device has rarely been investigated thus far. Herein, we provide an approach and demonstrate a proof-of-concept solid-state semiconductor-based highly transparent, optical-electrical-coupled, self-adaptive angular visual perception system that can fulfill the versatile criteria of the human vision system. Specifically, all of the primitive functions of visual perception, such as broad angular sensing, processing, and manifold memory storage, are demonstrated and comodulated using optical and electric pulses. This development represents an essential step forward in the fabrication of an environment-adaptable artificial angular perception framework with deep implications in the fields of optoelectronics, artificial eyes, and memory storage applications.

Angle-Sensitive Detector Based on Silicon-On-Insulator Photodiode Stacked with Surface Plasmon Antenna

We present a pixel-level angle sensitive detector composed of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) photodiode (PD) stacked with a gold surface plasmon (SP) antenna to affect the direction of the incoming light. The surface plasmons are excited in the grating-type SP antenna and enhance the diffraction efficiency of the grating. The diffracted light is coupled strongly with the propagation light in the SOI waveguide when the phase matching condition is satisfied. The phase matching takes place at a specific angle of light incidence, and the discrimination of the light based on the incident angle is achieved. As spatial patterns in the polar coordinate of the elevation-azimuth angles (θ, ϕ) of the incident light, we present the phase matching condition theoretically, the absorption efficiency in the SOI by simulation, and also the quantum efficiency of the SOI PD experimentally for different SP antennas of one-dimensional (1D) line-and-space (L/S) and two-dimensional (2D) hole array gratings under various polarization angles. 1D grating offers a polarization sensitive angle detection and 2D grating exhibits angle detection in two orthogonal directions, enabling a polarization independent angle sensitivity. A good agreement among the theory, simulation, and experiment are attained. The proposed device features relatively high quantum efficiency as an angle-sensitive pixel (ASP) and gives wider opportunities in applications such as three-dimensional (3D) imaging, depth-of-field extension, and lensless imaging.

Biologically inspired flexible photonic films for efficient passive radiative cooling

Temperature is a fundamental parameter for all forms of lives. Natural evolution has resulted in organisms which have excellent thermoregulation capabilities in extreme climates. Bioinspired materials that mimic biological solution for thermoregulation have proven promising for passive radiative cooling. However, scalable production of artificial photonic radiators with complex structures, outstanding properties, high throughput, and low cost is still challenging. Herein, we design and demonstrate biologically inspired photonic materials for passive radiative cooling, after discovery of longicorn beetles' excellent thermoregulatory function with their dual-scale fluffs. The natural fluffs exhibit a finely structured triangular cross-section with two thermoregulatory effects which effectively reflects sunlight and emits thermal radiation, thereby decreasing the beetles' body temperature. Inspired by the finding, a photonic film consisting of a micropyramid-arrayed polymer matrix with random ceramic particles is fabricated with high throughput. The film reflects ∼95% of solar irradiance and exhibits an infrared emissivity >0.96. The effective cooling power is found to be ∼90.8 W⋅m^-2 and a temperature decrease of up to 5.1 °C is recorded under direct sunlight. Additionally, the film exhibits hydrophobicity, superior flexibility, and strong mechanical strength, which is promising for thermal management in various electronic devices and wearable products. Our work paves the way for designing and fabrication of high-performance thermal regulation materials.

Plasmonic ommatidia for lensless compound-eye vision

The vision system of arthropods such as insects and crustaceans is based on the compound-eye architecture, consisting of a dense array of individual imaging elements (ommatidia) pointing along different directions. This arrangement is particularly attractive for imaging applications requiring extreme size miniaturization, wide-angle fields of view, and high sensitivity to motion. However, the implementation of cameras directly mimicking the eyes of common arthropods is complicated by their curved geometry. Here, we describe a lensless planar architecture, where each pixel of a standard image-sensor array is coated with an ensemble of metallic plasmonic nanostructures that only transmits light incident along a small geometrically-tunable distribution of angles. A set of near-infrared devices providing directional photodetection peaked at different angles is designed, fabricated, and tested. Computational imaging techniques are then employed to demonstrate the ability of these devices to reconstruct high-quality images of relatively complex objects.

Omnidirectional Photodetectors Based on Spatial Resonance Asymmetric Facade via a 3D Self-Standing Strategy

Integration of photovoltaic materials directly into 3D light-matter resonance architectures can extend their functionality beyond traditional optoelectronics. Semiconductor structures at subwavelength scale naturally possess optical resonances, which provides the possibility to manipulate light-matter interactions. In this work, a structure and function integrated printing method to remodel 2D film to 3D self-standing facade between predesigned gold electrodes, realizing the advancement of structure and function from 2D to 3D, is demonstrated. Due to the enlarged cross section in the 3D asymmetric rectangular structure, the facade photodetectors possess sensitive light-matter interaction. The single 3D facade photodetectors can measure the incident angle of light in 3D space with a 10° angular resolution. The resonance interaction of the incident light at different illumination angles and the 3D subwavelength photosensitive facade is analyzed by the simulated light flow in the facade. The 3D facade structure enhances the manipulation of the light-matter interaction and extends metasurface nanophotonics to a wider range of materials. The monitoring of dynamic variation is achieved in a single facade photodetector. Together with the flexibility of structure and function integrated printing strategy, three and four branched photodetectors extend the angle detection to omnidirectional ranges, which will be significant for the development of 3D angle-sensing devices.

Fano-Like Acoustic Resonance for Subwavelength Directional Sensing: 0-360 Degree Measurement

Directional sound sensing plays a critical role in many applications involving the localization of a sound source. However, the sensing range limit and fabrication difficulties of current acoustic sensing technologies pose challenges in realizing compact subwavelength direction sensors. Here, a subwavelength directional sensor is demonstrated, which can detect the angle of an incident wave in a full angle range (0°∼360°). The directional sensing is realized with acoustic coupling of Helmholtz resonators each supporting a monopolar resonance, which are monitored by conventional microphones. When these resonators scatter sound into free-space acoustic modes, the scattered waves from each resonator interfere, resulting in a Fano-like resonance where the spectral responses of the constituent resonators are drastically different from each other. This work provides a critical understanding of resonant coupling as well as a viable solution for directional sensing.

Anomalous plasmon hybridization in nanoantennas near interfaces

We report on an anomalous plasmon hybridization in side-by-side coupled metallic nanoantennas on top of a silicon waveguide. Contrary to the conventional perception based on Coulomb coupling, the hybridized anti-symmetric mode in our structure possesses a higher resonance frequency than the symmetric mode. This unusual phenomenon reveals a new mechanism of plasmon hybridization, namely, coupling-induced charge redistribution. Our work includes numerical simulation, experimental validation, and theoretical analysis, emphasizing the importance of dielectric interfaces in coupled plasmonic structures, and offers new possibilities for non-Hermitian systems and integrated devices.

Sound localization by the internally coupled ears of lizards: From biophysics to biorobotics

As they are generally small and only hear low frequencies, lizards have few cues for localizing sound. However, their ears show extreme directionality (up to 30 dB direction-dependent difference in eardrum vibrations) created by strong acoustical coupling of the eardrums, with almost perfect internal transmission from the contralateral ear over a broad frequency range. The activity of auditory nerve fibers reflects the eardrum directionality, so all auditory neurons are directional by default. This suggests that the ensuing neural processing of sound direction is simple in lizards. Even the simplest configuration of electrical analog models-two tympanic impedances connected via a central capacitor-produces directional patterns that are qualitatively similar to the experimental data on lizard ears. Several models, both analytical and (very recently) finite-element models, have been published. Robotic implementations using simplified models of the ear and of binaural comparison show that robust phonotaxic behavior can be generated with little additional processing and be performed by simple (and thus small and cheap) units. The authors review lizard directional processing and attempts at modeling and robotics with a twofold aim: to clarify the authors' understanding of central processing of sound localization in lizards, and to lead to technological developments of bioinspired robotics.

Non-Hermitian Selective Thermal Emitters using Metal-Semiconductor Hybrid Resonators

All open systems that exchange energy with their environment are non-Hermitian. Thermal emitters are open systems that can benefit from the rich set of physical phenomena enabled by their non-Hermitian description. Using phase, symmetry, chirality, and topology, thermal radiation from hot surfaces can be unconventionally engineered to generate light with new states. Such thermal emitters are necessary for a wide variety of applications in sensing and energy conversion. Here, a non-Hermitian selective thermal emitter is experimentally demonstrated, which exhibits passive PT-symmetry in thermal emission at 700 °C. Furthermore, the effect of internal phase of the oscillator system on far-field thermal radiation is experimentally demonstrated. The ability to tune the oscillator phase provides new pathways for both engineering and controlling selective thermal emitters for applications in sensing and energy conversion.

Transparent multispectral photodetectors mimicking the human visual system

Compact and lightweight photodetection elements play a critical role in the newly emerging augmented reality, wearable and sensing technologies. In these technologies, devices are preferred to be transparent to form an optical interface between a viewer and the outside world. For this reason, it is of great value to create detection platforms that are imperceptible to the human eye directly onto transparent substrates. Semiconductor nanowires (NWs) make ideal photodetectors as their optical resonances enable parsing of the multi-dimensional information carried by light. Unfortunately, these optical resonances also give rise to strong, undesired light scattering. In this work, we illustrate how a new optical resonance arising from the radiative coupling between arrayed silicon NWs can be harnessed to remove reflections from dielectric interfaces while affording spectro-polarimetric detection. The demonstrated transparent photodetector concept opens up promising platforms for transparent substrates as the base for opto-electronic devices and in situ optical measurement systems.

For augmented reality technologies it is beneficial to create devices on transparent substrates that are imperceptible to the human eye. Here, the authors harness resonances from radiative coupling between arrayed silicon nanowire photodetectors to remove reflections while affording spectro-polarimetric detection.

Compact single-shot metalens depth sensors inspired by eyes of jumping spiders

Nature provides diverse solutions to passive visual depth sensing. Evolution has produced vision systems that are highly specialized and efficient, delivering depth-perception capabilities that often surpass those of existing artificial depth sensors. Here, we learn from the eyes of jumping spiders and demonstrate a metalens depth sensor that shares the compactness and high computational efficiency of its biological counterpart. Our device combines multifunctional metalenses, ultrathin nanophotonic components that control light at a subwavelength scale, and efficient computations to measure depth from image defocus. Compared with previous passive artificial depth sensors, our bioinspired design is lightweight, single-shot, and requires a small amount of computation. The integration of nanophotonics and efficient computation establishes a paradigm for design in computational sensing.

Jumping spiders (Salticidae) rely on accurate depth perception for predation and navigation. They accomplish depth perception, despite their tiny brains, by using specialized optics. Each principal eye includes a multitiered retina that simultaneously receives multiple images with different amounts of defocus, and from these images, distance is decoded with relatively little computation. We introduce a compact depth sensor that is inspired by the jumping spider. It combines metalens optics, which modifies the phase of incident light at a subwavelength scale, with efficient computations to measure depth from image defocus. Instead of using a multitiered retina to transduce multiple simultaneous images, the sensor uses a metalens to split the light that passes through an aperture and concurrently form 2 differently defocused images at distinct regions of a single planar photosensor. We demonstrate a system that deploys a 3-mm-diameter metalens to measure depth over a 10-cm distance range, using fewer than 700 floating point operations per output pixel. Compared with previous passive depth sensors, our metalens depth sensor is compact, single-shot, and requires a small amount of computation. This integration of nanophotonics and efficient computation brings artificial depth sensing closer to being feasible on millimeter-scale, microwatts platforms such as microrobots and microsensor networks.

Hybrid Silicon Nanowire Devices and Their Functional Diversity

In the pool of nanostructured materials, silicon nanostructures are known as conventionally used building blocks of commercially available electronic devices. Their application areas span from miniaturized elements of devices and circuits to ultrasensitive biosensors for diagnostics. In this Review, the current trends in the developments of silicon nanowire-based devices are summarized, and their functionalities, novel architectures, and applications are discussed from the point of view of analog electronics, arisen from the ability of (bio)chemical gating of the carrier channel. Hybrid nanowire-based devices are introduced and described as systems decorated by, e.g., organic complexes (biomolecules, polymers, and organic films), aimed to substantially extend their functionality, compared to traditional systems. Their functional diversity is explored considering their architecture as well as areas of their applications, outlining several groups of devices that benefit from the coatings. The first group is the biosensors that are able to represent label-free assays thanks to the attached biological receptors. The second group is represented by devices for optoelectronics that acquire higher optical sensitivity or efficiency due to the specific photosensitive decoration of the nanowires. Finally, the so-called new bioinspired neuromorphic devices are shown, which are aimed to mimic the functions of the biological cells, e.g., neurons and synapses.

Fano resonance and polarization transformation induced by interpolarization coupling of Bloch surface waves

In this work, the resonant coupling behaviors between the transverse-electric (TE) and transverse-magnetic (TM) Bloch surface waves (BSWs) on a dielectric multilayer have been theoretically studied. Due to the different penetration depths in the dielectric multilayer, the TM BSWs and TE BSWs can act as the radiative and dark electromagnetic modes, respectively. By using a rectangular grating on the dielectric multilayer, both Rabi splitting and Fano resonance phenomena based on the coupling of the two BSW modes were demonstrated, through tuning the period of the grating and the azimuthal angle of the incoming wave. Furthermore, by using the temporal coupled-mode theory, we show that the anti-Hermitian coupling between the two BSW modes contributes to the enhanced diffraction and the huge polarization transformation efficiency of incoming waves in the weak coupling regime.