Flat Lens Breakthrough: Full-Color Imaging from Distant Stars Now Possible
University of Utah researchers have developed a revolutionary flat lens capable of focusing light as effectively as traditional curved lenses, while maintaining accurate color. This breakthrough solves the bulk and cost issues associated with large-aperture lenses. The lens uses microscopically small concentric rings to manipulate light, avoiding the chromatic aberrations of Fresnel zone plates. This technology promises to transform astrophotography, especially in space-constrained applications like aircraft, satellites, and space-based telescopes. Tests using images of the sun and moon demonstrated its capabilities, paving the way for its use in large-scale astronomical observation equipment for sharper, more true-to-life images of the cosmos.