Credit: Lei Wang, ANU
Physicists from The Australian National University (ANU) have invented a tiny device that creates the highest quality holographic images ever achieved, opening the door to imaging technologies seen in science fiction movies such as Star Wars.
Lead researcher Lei Wang said the team created complex holographic images in infrared with the invention that could be developed with industry.
"As a child, I learned about the concept of holographic imaging from the Star Wars movies. It's really cool to be working on an invention that uses the principles of holography depicted in those movies," said Mr Wang, a PhD student at the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering.
Holograms perform the most complex manipulations of light. They enable the storing and reproduction of all information carried by light in 3D. In contrast, standard photographs and computer monitors capture and display only a portion of 2D information.
"While research in holography plays an important role in the development of futuristic displays and augmented reality devices, today we are working on many other applications such as ultra-thin and light-weight optical devices for cameras and satellites," he said.
Mr Wang said the device could replace bulky components to miniaturise cameras and save costs in astronomical missions by reducing the size and weight of optical systems on space craft.
Co-lead researcher Dr Sergey Kruk said the device consisted of millions of tiny silicon pillars, each up to 500 times thinner than a human hair.
"This new material is transparent, which means it loses minimal energy from the light, and it also does complex manipulations with light," said Dr Kruk from the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering.
"Our ability to structure materials at the nanoscale allows the device to achieve new optical properties that go beyond the properties of natural materials. The holograms that we made demonstrate the strong potential of this technology to be used in a range of applications."
Dr Kruk said ANU led the design, fabrication and optical testing of the device.
Part of the research was conducted in collaboration with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States and Nanjing University in China.
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The research is supported by the Australian Research Council and is published in Optica as a Memorandum, a special announcement of scientific breakthroughs.
Related images are available via https://cloudstor.aarnet.edu.au/plus/index.php/s/3fkm6j41iobaAAN
Watch a video interview with the researchers on the ANU Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/OItKLI1pofQ
To arrange interviews, contact Will Wright from ANU media on +612 6125 7979, +61 478 337 740 or [email protected]
Media Contact
Will Wright
[email protected]
61-261-257-979
@ANUmedia
http://www.anu.edu.au/media
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Story Source: Materials provided by Scienmag
