Lens News

Scientists at Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are working on a high-efficiency, ultra-thin single planar lens that could revolutionize photography by replacing the multi-element curved lenses used for cameras, smartphones and telescopes.

The idea is that by replacing the stacked, heavy glass elements in conventional lenses with a single, flat “meta-lens,” optical devices could become lighter, smaller, and more affordable without sacrificing resolving power. 

According to Harvard’s Federico Carpasso, who heads up the team, “In the near future, meta-lenses will be manufactured on a large scale at a small foundry that mass produces microprocessors and memory chips.”  A paper published by SEAS, explains that the team uses titanium dioxide, a material found in everything from paints to sunscreen, to create the array that forms the heart of the meta-lens.

Patents are pending and the team is currently pursuing commercial opportunities.

Learn more in the fascinating video below.