Caltech is making strides in the field of optical technology with the development of a specialized 3D printer that allows researchers to fabricate optical devices.
These devices are constructed using optical metamaterials, which derive their unique properties from structures as small as nanometers.
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This groundbreaking technology holds the potential to reshape the capabilities of cameras and sensors, as it enables them to detect and manipulate light in ways previously unimaginable on a small scale.
Leading the research is Faraon, who has successfully developed optical metamaterials in the past.
However, this is the first time these materials have been extended into three dimensions.
Faraon explains that while most optical devices are typically created as thin material layers, optics fundamentally exist in a three-dimensional space.
The aim of the research is to explore the possibilities of fabricating three-dimensional structures smaller than the wavelength of light they intend to control.
Faraon’s laboratory has already designed miniature devices capable of classifying incoming infrared light based on wavelength and polarization.
These devices could be adapted to work with visible light and be small enough to be placed directly over a camera’s sensor.
By directing specific wavelengths to individual pixels, a camera could capture red light in one pixel, green light in another, and blue light in a third.
The same concept applies to polarized light, potentially leading to cameras capable of detecting surface orientation, a valuable feature for augmented and virtual reality applications.
The appearance of the devices developed in Faraon’s lab is quite unique, resembling organic and chaotic structures more reminiscent of the inside of a termite mound than a typical optics lab.
This is because the devices are created through an algorithmic evolution process that continually modifies their design until they perform as expected.
The design software used in this process operates iteratively, making choices at each step of the optimization process.
Roberts, a member of the team, explains that the design software is fundamentally an iterative process that optimizes the device.
With each small change, the software identifies how to make another incremental improvement, ultimately resulting in an unconventional structure that excels in the desired function.
These designs, however, lack a rational understanding in the traditional sense because they are produced via an optimization algorithm.
The resulting shapes effectively fulfill the targeted functions, but they may not align with intuitive expectations due to the complexity of the desired outcomes, such as splitting wavelengths in specific patterns.
To bring these innovative designs to life, the researchers employ a technique called two-photon polymerization (TPP) lithography.
This form of 3D printing utilizes a laser to selectively harden a liquid resin, enabling the manufacturing of structures with features smaller than a micron.
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Faraon acknowledges that this work is currently a proof of concept, but with further research and development, a viable manufacturing approach could be established.
The research efforts are financially supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), reflecting the significant potential and implications of this technological breakthrough in defense and security applications.
