A metalens that can half the wavelength of incident light
Metalenses are flat, perform in the same way as normal lenses and do not need to be made of glass
The ETH researchers succeeded in creating the first lithium niobate metalenses with precisely engineered nanostructures. While functioning as normal light focusing lenses, these devices can simultaneously change the wavelength of laser light. When infrared light with a wavelength of 800 nanometres is sent through the metalens, visible radiation with a wavelength of 400 nanometres emerges on the other side and is directed at a designated point.
This news technology can be used as security features to render banknotes and securities counterfeit-proof and to guarantee the authenticity of artworks, camera lenses and deep-UV light patterning in state-of-the-art electronics fabrication.
The field of such ultra-thin optical elements – known as metasurfaces – is a relatively young branch of research at the interface between physics, materials science and chemistry.
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