Revolutionary light control: New metaoptics replace conventional lenses!

Revolutionary light control: New metaoptics replace conventional lenses!

Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) presented an innovative optical component at the Hanover Messe 2025 that could replace the conventional lenses. This new component enables a highly efficient light control, especially in steep incoming angles, and overcomes many of the restrictions associated with curved lenses. Traditional lenses are often bulky and only offer limited control over light waves.

The kit researches the use of meta surfaces that consist of tiny structures, the so -called metaatoma. These flat surfaces enable precise control of light with regard to its phase, amplitude and polarization. The optical flexion meter developed on the KIT even shows a four-time efficiency compared to conventional flexion grilles, which is particularly important for applications in spectroscopy, telecommunications and laser systems. These progress could make the construction of optical systems considerably simplified because a single meta interface can replace several optical components.

technological progress

The production of these innovative meta surfaces takes place with advanced lithography and etching technologies that come from the semiconductor industry. This enables scalable production that is of crucial importance for industrial applications. Dr. Falk Eilenberger, who leads the department for micro- and nanostructured optics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Fine Mechanics (IOF), emphasizes the need to think beyond traditional lenses and mirrors. It sees a powerful alternative in meta surfaces that focuses on an optical function into a surface.

The difference to the classic lens is mainly in geometry: While lentils are thick and crum, meta surfaces are thin and structured on magnitude that are smaller than the wavelengths of light. Eilenberger further explains that although meta surfaces are already being used in scientific circles, they are often only a few square millimeters and are therefore not sufficient for many industrial applications.

new dimensions

A representative development of the Fraunhofer IOF is a meta surface with a diameter of 30 centimeters, which is able to demonstrate the advantages of this technology on a larger scale. Eilenberger points out that they are not the inventors of the meta surfaces, but the first to successfully implement the technology to such an extent. The promising future of this technology is shown in possible operations in various areas, including cameras, sensors, augmented reality displays, medical imaging, microscopy, robotics and autonomous driving.

The combination of innovative production and sophisticated design options opens up new perspectives for optical technology. The challenges of traditional lenses seem to be able to be able to be managed far better through these modern approaches, which could lead to more efficient and more compact solutions.

For more information about this exciting progress in the optics, interested readers can read the complete reports on the website of the KIT and Fraunhofer IOF: kit> kit reports , Fraunhofer IOF , or a detailed insight into the technology in the publication of the IOF here .