thin_film_memetic_optimization

Contents

This package can be used to design broadband thin-film spectral filters given a list of dispersive materials

• algorithm: This is a folder that contains the main mechanics of the memetic algorithm and its helper functions

• dispersion data: This is a folder that contains the dispersive refractive index of each material. The refractive indices of each material is stored in .xlsx format, where the first column specifies the wavelength (in microns), the second (third) column specifies the real (imaginary) part of the refractive indices

• disp_generate_example.m: This is an example script that shows the syntax of specifying the wavelengths of interest and interpolating the material's refractive index properties

• optimization_example_cooler.m: This is an example script that optimizes the reflection/emissivity spectrum of a radiative cooling device

             Sidenote: This article discusses how a radiative cooling device works

How to run the example optimization

1. Run "disp_generate_example.m" once to generate the refractive indices of materials in the wavelengths of interest
2. Run "optimization_example_cooler.m" to see the optimization of the spectrum of a radiative cooling device

How to run your own optimizations

1. (Optional) Place your own materials' refractive indices in ".xlsx" format inside the "dispersion data" folder. First column is wavelength in microns, and second (third) column is the real (imaginary) part of the refractive index.
2. Edit "disp_generate_example.m" to specify the wavelengths that you are interested in and the materials you are interested in using.
3. Edit "optimization_example_cooler" to specify:
          Your target reflection spectrum
          Incidence and substrate materials
          List of materials that you are using in your multi-layer thin film
          Fixed material layers between substrate and multi-layer thin film
          Angle of incidence
          Number of thin film layers
          Memetic algorithm parameters

How to cite this work

The details of this algorithm is published here in ACS Photonics
       Article DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.7b01136