CASE Award Studentship: Super-Resolution Metrology Of Image-Forming Diffractive Waveguides For Augmented And Mixed Reality Displays

WaveOptics是一家总部位于英国的公司，为新兴的增强现实（AR）市场开发，制造和销售头戴式显示器（HMD）技术。WaveOptics已成为该领域的技术领导者，并在其客户中列出了许多世界领先的技术公司。AR-HMD的主要功能是获取计算机生成的图像并将其叠加在真实的世界上。WaveOptics衍射波导使用一片薄玻璃在其表面上形成纳米结构阵列来实现这一点。这些纳米结构的尺寸和形状是至关重要的-如果它们不能以足够的精度和保真度实现，那么性能将严重受损。因此，精确的测量和表征至关重要，特别是对于未来针对更复杂设计的开发。WaveOptics目前使用多种方法来表征其纳米结构，但是这些方法不能提供未来开发或在线生产监控所需的分辨率，速度和大面积测量的组合。该项目将关注开发光学技术和仪器，以实现新的和改进的表征方法。这些技术包括超分辨率显微镜方法、散射测量和衍射图案测量，以及沿着相关的分析方法。还将研究结合机器学习最新进展的数据分析方法。学生将利用制造计量团队和诺丁汉纳米技术和纳米科学中心的广泛能力，深入了解测量任务。在初步探索阶段之后，将选择最有前途的技术，发展成一种或多种可在线应用的实用工具。该项目将涵盖广泛的活动，包括光学理论和模拟，仪器设计，建造和测试，实验数据分析和不确定性估计。

WaveOptics is a UK-based company that develops, manufactures and sells head-mounted display (HMD) technology for the emerging augmented reality (AR) market. WaveOptics has established itself as the technology leader in its sector and lists among its customers many of the world's leading technology companies. The principal function of an AR-HMD is to take a computer generated image and overlay it on viewing of the real world. The WaveOptics diffractive waveguide does this using a thin piece of glass onto the surfaces of which are formed arrays of nanostructures. The size and shape of these nanostructures is critical - if they are not realised with sufficient accuracy and fidelity then performance will be severely compromised. As such accurate measurement and characterisation is essential, especially for future developments targeting much more complex designs. WaveOptics currently uses a variety of methods to characterise its nanostructures, however these do not provide the combination of resolution, speed and large area survey needed for future development or online production monitoring.This project will be concerned with developing optical techniques and instruments for new and improved methods of characterisation. These techniques include super-resolution microscopy methods, scatterometry and diffraction pattern measurements, along with associated analysis methods. Data analysis methods incorporating recent advances in machine learning will also be investigated. The student will make use of the extensive capabilities in the Manufacturing Metrology Team and Nottingham Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre to get a deep understanding of the measurement task. After an initial exploratory phase, the most promising techniques will be selected for development into one or more practical instruments that can be applied on line. The project will cover a broad spectrum of activity ranging from optical theory and simulation, instrument design, construction and testing, analysis of experimental data and uncertainty estimation.