Hi, today I analyzed this article from ScienceDaily, which illustrates that scientists have created a new ultra-thin lens for electronic devices like phones, drones and satellites. Multi-layered “meta lens” design using metamaterials that can focus multiple wavelengths of light allowed scientists to make a major breakthrough.
Main points:
- Scientists stacked multiple metamaterial layers rather than using a single layer, creating a new lens.
- This serval layer format overcomes previous problems of single layered meta surfaces, like limits on numerical aperture, diameter and operating bandwidth.
- They use an inverse design such as rounded squares, four-leaf clovers and propellers for the metamaterial components.
- The outcome of this is the meta lens being extremely thin, a fraction of the width of a hair, and can be made through semiconductor nanofabrication methods.
- The lens design can focus light no matter of its polarization state, meaning it is polarization insensitive.
- Although there is a limitation, the multiple layer design can only handle up to around 5 wavelengths because of resonance and diffraction trade offs.
- Though, these lens are very useful for lightweight imaging systems, for example those used in drones or for satellites that observe earth, where size and weight are significant.
- This breakthrough allows for the possibility of cheaper, smaller, while also high performance optics for portable devices like phones and drones.
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