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Space-Time Scattering Network for Electromagnetic Inverse Design and Tomography

Optics · Submitted 17 Nov 2018

abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review

The authors' main claim We show this property leads to orders of magnitude smaller number of unknown weights, and a much faster convergence, compared with inverse design methods using conventional neural networks.

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arXiv ID1811.07207 (version 1)
Pith IDP5LQ5G4J, Pith's permanent record of this paper and its review
CitationHooman Mohseni (1) ((1) Northwestern University), Travis Hamilton (1). "Space-Time Scattering Network for Electromagnetic Inverse Design and Tomography." arXiv:1811.07207 (2018). https://pith.science/paper/P5LQ5G4J
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Compiled by classifier-1.13.0 via TypeSafe API, question bank abstract-p1-20260923, 2026-09-23: 1 request, 6,784 input tokens.

What the abstract itself states, as probabilities: claims first 0.11 · states limitation 0.08 · human participants 0.02 · controlled comparison 0.55 · randomized assignment 0.01 · states quantitative result 0.16 · compares with prior results 0.90 · mentions code or data availability 0.03.

The abstract, sentence by sentence

arXiv listing abstract v1. Results and the main claim are underlined; .

Maxwell equations generally explain the propagation of light through an arbitrary medium by using wave mechanics. However, scientific evidence since Newton suggest a discrete interpretation of light more generally explains its nature. This interpretation lends itself well to the discrete form of computer simulation. While current simulations attempt to discretize Maxwell equations, we present an inherently discrete physical model of light propagation that naturally forms a causal space-time scattering network (STSN). STSN has the topology of neural networks, inverse design and tomography based on STSN can be readily implemented in a variety of software and hardware that are optimized for deep learning. Also, STSN inherently includes the physics of light propagation, and hence the number of unknown weights in STSN is at a minimum. We show this property leads to orders of magnitude smaller number of unknown weights, and a much faster convergence, compared with inverse design methods using conventional neural networks. In addition, the intrinsic presence of space-time fabric in STSN allows time-dependent inverse design and tomography. We show examples of the fast convergence of STSN in predicting time-dependent index profiles while avoiding approximations typically used.

background contribution method result interpretation main claim

What the classifier reports for each sentence. The number is the probability it gave the label.
#sentencerolethe authors' own workstates the main conclusionstrength
s0 Maxwell equations generally explain the propagation of light through an arbitrary medium by using wave mechanics. background 1.00 0.04 0.02 asserted 0.91
s1 However, scientific evidence since Newton suggest a discrete interpretation of light more generally explains its nature. background 0.97 0.04 0.04 asserted 0.83
s2 This interpretation lends itself well to the discrete form of computer simulation. background 0.81 0.08 0.03 asserted 0.76
s3 While current simulations attempt to discretize Maxwell equations, we present an inherently discrete physical model of light propagation that naturally forms a causal space-time scattering network (STSN). contribution 0.98 0.83 0.25 asserted 1.00
s4 STSN has the topology of neural networks, inverse design and tomography based on STSN can be readily implemented in a variety of software and hardware that are optimized for deep learning. interpretation 0.43 0.25 0.18 asserted 0.66
s5 Also, STSN inherently includes the physics of light propagation, and hence the number of unknown weights in STSN is at a minimum. contribution 0.37 0.40 0.12 asserted 1.00
s6 We show this property leads to orders of magnitude smaller number of unknown weights, and a much faster convergence, compared with inverse design methods using conventional neural networks. result 0.99 0.93 0.39 asserted 1.00
s7 In addition, the intrinsic presence of space-time fabric in STSN allows time-dependent inverse design and tomography. contribution 0.84 0.31 0.13 asserted 0.98
s8 We show examples of the fast convergence of STSN in predicting time-dependent index profiles while avoiding approximations typically used. result 0.94 0.95 0.19 asserted 1.00

What kind of paper the classifier reports this is: method or tool 1.00 · evidence from simulation or computation 0.86.

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Every quoted sentence on this record is the authors'. Every label is from Pith's closed vocabulary, with the probability shown beside it. Every number in the measurements table is the authors', checked by code. Record as JSON

The paper
Original abstract

Maxwell equations generally explain the propagation of light through an arbitrary medium by using wave mechanics. However, scientific evidence since Newton suggest a discrete interpretation of light more generally explains its nature. This interpretation lends itself well to the discrete form of computer simulation. While current simulations attempt to discretize Maxwell equations, we present an inherently discrete physical model of light propagation that naturally forms a causal space-time scattering network (STSN). STSN has the topology of neural networks, inverse design and tomography based on STSN can be readily implemented in a variety of software and hardware that are optimized for deep learning. Also, STSN inherently includes the physics of light propagation, and hence the number of unknown weights in STSN is at a minimum. We show this property leads to orders of magnitude smaller number of unknown weights, and a much faster convergence, compared with inverse design methods using conventional neural networks. In addition, the intrinsic presence of space-time fabric in STSN allows time-dependent inverse design and tomography. We show examples of the fast convergence of STSN in predicting time-dependent index profiles while avoiding approximations typically used.

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