Scientists develop new lens without distortions

Scientists have created a new ultrathin flat lens which doesn't suffer from distortions inherent with current designs. The new lens is made from silicon and gold which is said to deliver ‘perfect images'.

The lens is 60 nanometers thick and was created by physicists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. It is basically a two dimensional design yet the focusing power ‘approached the ultimate physical limit set by the laws of diffraction.'

Federico Capasso, professor of applied physics said “Our flat lens opens up a new type of technology. We're presenting a new way of making lenses. It's extremely exciting.”

The lens was created by plating a very thin wafer of silicon into a nanometer thin layer of gold. This flat lens design stops optical aberrations including the ‘fish eye' effect apparent in current wide angle lenses. The researchers are keen to state that the image doesn't require any complex corrective techniques.

Lead author Francesco Aieta said in a statement “In the future we can potentially replace all the bulk components in the majority of optical systems with just flat surfaces.”

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