OPTICS : Pauline Bennet " Optimization methods in photonics: towards interpretable structures"

Optics Departmnet is pleased to welcome Dr. Pauline Bennet, Post-Doc at Clermont-Ferrand University to present a seminar entitled : "Optimization methods in photonics: towards interpretable structures".

It will take place on Monday 15th April, at 2:00 in the Gagnepain Amphithéâter - Building TEMIS - Besançon.

Abstract : Global optimization methods for nanophotonics, despite their high computational cost, are becoming relevant given the performances of modern computers and are yielding promising results. However, in recent years, a large number of optimization algorithms have been proposed, making it difficult to compare their performance on given problems. In this context, we present a practical method to benchmark algorithms in the field of photonics. Simple observables - convergence curves, consistency curves, and the optimized structure itself - are relevant for judging the reliability of an optimization algorithm and the quality of the solutions generated. Our aim is to define intuitive confidence criteria that can be used to detect whether the result of an optimization is satisfactory. This is particularly important because optimization algorithms can never be sure of finding the true optimal solution, given that they are often non-deterministic or find only local optima. Here we show how to rely on benchmarks and associated observables to select efficient optimization algorithms, leading to the discovery of novel and satisfactory designs of photonic structures.

All interested faculty members, researchers, and students are welcome to attend.