Producing the perfect color images we need and love often requires multiple, heavy lenses so that each color focuses in exactly the same plane. Now Penn State engineers have developed a new theory that solves the problem using a single thin lens composed of gradient index materials and metasurface layers to properly direct the light.
"If we want high performance optical systems, then we have to overcome material dispersion," said Sawyer D. Campbell, assistant research professor in electrical engineering. "If we don't, we get smeary colors, which significantly degrades image quality."
Single apochromatic lenses -- ones that properly focus the three colors red, blue and green -- that have less curvature and are thinner and lighter could improve cell phone cameras and allow manufacture of thinner cell phones. They also could make lighter, better body cameras, helmet cameras, sniper scopes, thermal imaging devices and unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. In essence, anything that uses lenses to image could be made simpler and lighter.
J. Nagar, S. D. Campbell, D. H. Werner. Apochromatic singlets enabled by metasurface-augmented GRIN lenses. Optica, 2018; 5 (2): 99 DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.5.000099
(Score: 3, Informative) by cmdrklarg on Monday February 12 2018, @06:05PM (1 child)
Thinner lenses would be good for those who need a stronger prescription.
The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Monday February 12 2018, @06:46PM
Exactly.
My prescription in one eye requires much more correction than the other.
So much so that until high index glass became available, my glasses were so heavy on one side that they tended to sit lopsided on my face due to the weight difference.
I see this as far more important than making a cell phone thinner. WE DON"T NEED THINNER PHONES!.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.