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Flat Lens Offers a Perfect Image

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief


Mark,

This could put a lot of lens grinding machines out of work. Imagine they will build reproductions of well respected and rare iconic large format lenses by exactly reproducing the exact nature of the extra plane of soft focus that is added to perfect focus by lenses such as the Pinkham and smith visual quality optics. It should be able to sell at $200 instead of $3,000!

Also imagine how light camera will become!! A 600 mm telephoto lens will be flat!

Asher
 
The "Flat Lens Offers a Perfect Image" press release is a bit of a crock typical of scientists indulging in attention getting. And it's use of monochromatic coherent laser light doesn't translate well into a practical photographic lens.

Wait until our Doug Kerr puts this through the analytical wringer.
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
The "Flat Lens Offers a Perfect Image" press release is a bit of a crock typical of scientists indulging in attention getting. And it's use of monochromatic coherent laser light doesn't translate well into a practical photographic lens.

Wait until our Doug Kerr puts this through the analytical wringer.

Maris,

Are you saying that this wouldn't work for all wavelengths of visible light? I wonder if the radio antenna can be built to accommodate the breadth of wavelengths we need.

Asher
 
Maris,

Are you saying that this wouldn't work for all wavelengths of visible light? I wonder if the radio antenna can be built to accommodate the breadth of wavelengths we need.

Asher

As I read it there is no access to visible light, only infrared at the short end extending to sub-millimetre at the long end. The tiny antenna arrays are tuned for a single wavelength so a polychromatic input should leave plenty of chromatic abberation to mess up the image.

Some of the criticisms of optical lenses, distortion, coma, etc are a bit rich. Practically abberation free, diffraction limited lenses are available now if one wants to spend the money.

Scientists in search of publicity, and a boost in research funds, like to make "spectacular"announcements that capture non-specialist (=journalist) attention. I used to do a bit of this when I was in research!
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
As I read it there is no access to visible light, only infrared at the short end extending to sub-millimetre at the long end. The tiny antenna arrays are tuned for a single wavelength so a polychromatic input should leave plenty of chromatic abberation to mess up the image.

I read it as using multiple surfaces to cover polychromatic light. I'll try to find out more. Meanwhile I'm hanging on to my real lenses for real photography1

Asher
 

Mark Hampton

New member
I read it as using multiple surfaces to cover polychromatic light. I'll try to find out more. Meanwhile I'm hanging on to my real lenses for real photography1

Asher


link to the full publication - you will need an account.

there are a couple of points to take on board here i guess - lens tech is changing massively - lighter / small and cheaper to produce lens may be on the way.

maris is correct in respect to caution - not being a scientist or an optical expert - i neither confirm that this will make it or deny it. we all understand the need for funding the general poor reporting of science by journalists. the article is really titled "Aberration-Free Ultrathin Flat Lenses and Axicons at Telecom Wavelengths Based on Plasmonic Metasurfaces"

i was more interested in the use of the word perfect but hey. the idea of a perfect future anything is always a potent image. as is the restored image of christ - which is perfect.

here is another take on this word
 
Lens elements will by light and flat.
Error correcting elements will be gone.

The laws of optics have not been repealed; therefore,
Diameters will be the same.
Lengths will be the same.
 

Mark Hampton

New member
Lens elements will by light and flat.
Error correcting elements will be gone.

The laws of optics have not been repealed; therefore,
Diameters will be the same.
Lengths will be the same.

Lengths could change - think mirrors made of this type of tech that react in intensity when needed - focal lengths could be dialled in... ahh a perfect future
 

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
If the devices can be made to respond to electrical fields or voltage, then perhaps the focal length might be changed at will. Different wavelengths ranges could be stacked.

Asher
 
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