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Scientists Create World's Thinnest Lens Using Quantum Effects

The lens, made from tungsten disulphide and only three atoms thick, could revolutionize augmented reality technology.

The thinnest lens on Earth, made of concentric rings of tungsten disulphide (WS2), uses excitons to efficiently focus light.
A diagram of the new lens, the thinnest ever

Overview

  • The lens is a flat Fresnel design, focusing light through diffraction instead of refraction.
  • It measures just 0.6 nanometers in thickness and 0.5 millimeters in width.
  • Quantum properties of tungsten disulphide enhance the lens's efficiency at specific wavelengths.
  • Most light passes through the lens unaffected, making it ideal for augmented reality applications.
  • Researchers aim to develop more complex optical coatings that can be electrically adjusted.