Design of Mantis-Shrimp-Inspired Multifunctional Imaging Sensors with Simultaneous Spectrum and Polarization Detection Capability at a Wide Waveband

Abstract

The remarkable light perception abilities of the mantis shrimp, which span a broad spectrum ranging from 300 nm to 720 nm and include the detection of polarized light, serve as the inspiration for our exploration. Drawing insights from the mantis shrimp’s unique visual system, we propose the design of a multifunctional imaging sensor capable of concurrently detecting spectrum and polarization across a wide waveband. This sensor is able to show spectral imaging capability through the utilization of a 16-channel multi-waveband Fabry–Pérot (FP) resonator filter array. The design incorporates a composite thin film structure comprising metal and dielectric layers as the reflector of the resonant cavity. The resulting metal–dielectric composite film FP resonator extends the operating bandwidth to cover both visible and infrared regions, specifically spanning a broader range from 450 nm to 900 nm. Furthermore, within this operational bandwidth, the metal–dielectric composite film FP resonator demonstrates an average peak transmittance exceeding 60%, representing a notable improvement over the metallic resonator. Additionally, aluminum-based metallic grating arrays are incorporated beneath the FP filter array to capture polarization information. This innovative approach enables the simultaneous acquisition of spectrum and polarization information using a single sensor device. The outcomes of this research hold promise for advancing the development of high-performance, multifunctional optical sensors, thereby unlocking new possibilities in the field of optical information acquisition.