An increased aperture-to-depth ratio and a smaller lens stack open possibilities from telescopes to camera lenses in smartphones.ELIZABETH HOWELL, Space and Science JournalistThe telescope has been used for more than 400 years. Although there have been many designs created for looking at distant objects, there is a fundamental weakness with the lens system. By necessity, telescopes use curved lenses — which are prone to aberrations. For the first time, a novel flat surface lens system offers the potential for better resolution from a significantly more compact size. The flat lens system gathers about 27 percent more light than a comparably sized curved aperture with squared corners. The design increases the aperture-to-depth ratio in devices that...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESOptical Method Clocks Expansion of UniverseResearchers from the University of Michigan and the University of Hawaii Institute of Astronomy proposed an optical method that uses the light from quasars to determine the rate of the...Photonics Spectra July 2021 IssueHolographic Space Telescope Takes Aim at the Next 'Planet Earth'To support the discovery of planets outside the solar system, scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) created an experimental space telescope that can directly analyze the spectra of an...Photonics.com 10/27/2021Adaptive Optics Keep an Eye on Space JunkResearchers at Australian National University (ANU) have employed an artificial guide star to bring objects orbiting Earth into focus. The approach may help mitigate risks from space debris. ...Photonics.com 5/12/2021Webb’s Exoplanet Observations Demonstrate Telescope's StrengthsIn two groundbreaking firsts, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured a direct image of an exoplanet, or a planet outside our solar system, as well as the first clear evidence for carbon...Photonics Spectra November 2022 IssuePRODUCTSAnti-abrasion Glass CoatingPRO-HC-VIS1 anti-abrasion clear glass coatings from Abrisa Technologies can be applied to a wide range of glass substrates. The protective hard coating provides linear taber abrasion...Photonics.com 5/25/2022Benchtop Cell SorterThe Aurora CS high-dimensional, benchtop cell sorter from Cytek Biosciences Inc. uses Full Spectrum Profiling™ technology to deliver a seamless sorting experience for even the most challenging...BioPhotonics Sep/Oct 2021 IssueFiber Optic PyrometerThe PSC-GRF11N pyrometer from Process Sensors Corp. is a fiber optic, two-color device designed for lower starting temperature measurements beginning at 300 °C. Four temperature ranges are...Photonics.com 8/30/2021Tunable LaserThe T200S tunable laser from EXFO Inc. is a continuously tunable device for cost-optimized testing of transceivers and optical components in high-volume manufacturing. When automated through...Photonics.com 9/1/2022PHOTONICS HANDBOOK ARTICLESNano-Optics: New Rules for Optical Components: Operating in the nano-realm offers designers a host of new opportunities. Understanding what to expect in this miniature world is key to successful nano-optic component design.When physical structures get very small — on the order of molecular or atomic sizes with one or more dimensions on the nanoscale — their behavior and interactions with energy, including...Photonics HandbookOptical System Optimization: Analyzing the Effects of Stray Light: Stray light can impede the performance of any optical system. With a deeper understanding of stray light, and the right tools, optical engineers can predict and compensate for its effects in order to improve quality.Electrical engineers are very familiar with the effects of shot noise, thermal noise, flicker noise and crosstalk, and recognize how these effects can reduce the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in their...Photonics HandbookOptical Materials: Double-Sided Lapping and Polishing: Double-sided lapping and polishing utilizes planetary action with the combination of a top and bottom plate to precisely grind and polish precision, parallel optics.Double-sided processing is a batch-type process that uses planetary action — generally with loose, abrasive particles suspended in a liquid vehicle — to abrade material almost equally...Photonics HandbookPlastic Optics: Specifying Injection-Molded Polymer Optics: The versatility of polymer optics opens new doors for optical designers who understand the whys and hows of specifications.The use of precision polymer optics is becoming an increasing necessity today as products demand sophisticated light handling components to achieve desired results. Polymer optics can be thought of...Photonics HandbookWHITEPAPERSCustom Optics & Thin-Film CoatingsReynard Corporation has all the facilities necessary to design, fabricate, and qualify state-of-the-art coatings for numerous applications. Our precision optics are found in high-performance systems...Photonics.com 8/10/2022AccuCoat’s Thin Film Expertise for IR SubstratesWith the increase in IR (infrared) applications for new technology and developing safety and security worldwide, AccuCoat is fast becoming one of the go-to providers for consistently performing...Photonics.com 1/31/2022How to Request Coatings on Plastic OpticsObtain the information you need, faster, with our handy checklist PDF. Use this tool to gather up all of the key specs for your project before contacting us for pricing.Photonics.com 1/7/2022Visualizing Light Guide Performance Using Photorealistic RenderingDiscover the power of light guides with our free whitepaper! Learn about total internal reflection, surface features, and performance parameters with ease. Elevate your expertise and stay ahead in...Photonics.com 2/14/2023WEBINARSDevelopments in Optics and Optical ComponentsFree Webinar Additional Questions & Answers from the Webinar below: Speakers: Dr. Robert R. McLeod Associate Professor and Graduate Director Electrical, Computer and Energy...Photonics.com 5/29/2013Minimizing Interferometric Measurement Variations During Optical ManufacturingOptical manufacturing has become increasingly challenging as specifications tighten for wavefronts, form, slopes, and mid-spatial frequency features. Interferometers are essential tools to control...Photonics.com 1/11/2023Ray Optics SimulationsTune into this webinar to learn about optical ray tracing using the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. This presentation will include a live demo in the software, showing how to create a fully...Photonics.com 6/4/2020Ray Optics SimulationsTune into this webinar to learn about optical ray tracing using the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. This presentation includes a live demo in the software. The demo shows how to create a fully...Photonics.com 11/2/2021PHOTONICS DICTIONARY TERMSlaser guide starAn artificial star used to aid in adaptive optics imaging of the sky. The guide star is provided from a telescope system on the ground and is directed into the imaged region. The wavefront...EDU.photonics.com 3/5/2018Judas opticsA small defocused Galilean telescope mounted in a hole in a door. Viewed from inside through the positive lens, a wide-angle view of the outside is seen; viewed from outside through the negative...EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009active opticsTechnology that corrects the shape of reflective optics; primarily applied in large telescope systems, in order to compensate for slowly varying changes in temperature, wind and mechanical stress.EDU.photonics.com 5/8/2017image opticsAny form of lens, optical system (camera, telescope, microscope, etc.), or opto-electronics utilized for the purpose of producing an image of a given object.EDU.photonics.com 3/5/2018MEDIARainbow Research Optics LLC Introduction VideoRainbow Research Optics LLC Introduction VideoPhotonics.com 5/27/2022Telecentric Lenses - Shanghai OpticsTelecentric Lenses are widely used in metrology instruments, laser marking systems, and AOI (Automatic Optical Inspection) machines. Here’s a 360 view of one of our custom Telecentric Lenses which...Photonics.com 12/6/2022Optical Products and Components - OPCO Laboratory Inc.From lenses to prisms, OPCO Laboratory Inc. manufactures a variety of optical products and components that can serve the needs of many applications.Photonics.com 11/11/2020Product Demo: Display Testing in AR and VR HeadsetsEvaluating the visual quality of displays as viewed through augmented and virtual reality headsets requires testing from the vantage point of the user. Radiant Vision Systems provides a comprehensive...Photonics.com 10/9/2020PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESAspheric MirrorsAn aspheric mirror is a nonspherical mirror used in reflecting optical systems, such as astronomical telescopes.Eyepiece LensesGlass and Glass-Ceramic MirrorsTelescope LensesCOMPANIESFOCtek Photonics Inc.FOCtek provides customers with all types of custom manufactured lenses, Precision Optical Components, Polarizing Optics, Prisms, Filters, Coatings, Optical Systems, Crystals, Nonlinear Crystals,...Photonics Buyers' GuideLaCroix Precision OpticsOptics that Defend, Build, Cure and Discover The LaCroix name is synonymous with quality precision optics. Since 1947, three generations of family leadership have placed LaCroix Precision Optics...Photonics Buyers' GuideOhara Corporation, Western OfficeOhara manufactures precision optical glasses: strip/slab, cut/molded blanks, pressings, high homogeneity blanks, fine gobs, polished ball lenses, near-UV transmitting i-Line glass, ceramic...Photonics Buyers' GuideShanghai Optics Inc.ISO 9001 & ISO 13485 certified and D&B DUNS # 113515303 Shanghai Optics is an unparalleled custom system solution provider offering advance precision custom optical design, engineering,...Photonics Buyers' Guide