Efficient Light Control: Meta-Optics Replacing Conventional Lenses
Whether in sensors, cameras, or displays, metasurfaces have the potential to fundamentally enhance optical systems in our daily lives. By enabling more precise control of light, they facilitate compact and multifunctional solutions. At Hannover Messe, which begins on Monday, March 31, 2025, researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) will demonstrate an optical component that allows highly efficient light control at steep incidence angles, overcoming previous limitations. (Source: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – Press Releases)
Conventional curved lenses, which direct light through refraction in glass or plastic, are often bulky, heavy, and provide only limited control over light waves. Metasurfaces, on the other hand, are flat and consist of an array of tiny structures known as meta-atoms. These meta-atoms manipulate light at subwavelength scales, enabling highly precise control over aspects such as phase, amplitude, and polarization. “With metasurfaces, we can specifically influence the temporal shift, intensity, and oscillation direction of light waves,” explains Dr. Maryna Leonidivna Meretska, group leader at KIT’s Institute for Nanotechnology. “Thanks to their multiplexing capability, meaning the simultaneous and targeted manipulation of different parameters, a single metasurface can replace multiple optical components. This allows us to reduce the size of optical systems without compromising performance.” Production is also simplified: “They are manufactured using advanced lithography and etching technologies from the semiconductor industry, enabling scalable production,” Meretska adds.
Metagrating with Fourfold Efficiency Increase
At Hannover Messe, Meretska and her team will present an optical diffraction metagrating manufactured using specialized fabrication equipment at KIT. Diffraction gratings are essential optical components for various industrial applications, including spectroscopy, telecommunications, and laser systems. Typically, the efficiency of diffraction gratings decreases significantly as the angle of incidence increases. However, the metagrating developed at KIT achieves four times higher efficiency compared to conventional systems. “Our metagrating enables unprecedented control of light under challenging conditions. This represents a significant advancement for future applications that require precise light control,” says Meretska. After successfully demonstrating the prototype’s functionality, the research team is now developing tailored optical solutions for various industrial applications.
Diverse Applications
Due to their flat structure, meta-optics are particularly well-suited for cameras, sensors, and augmented reality displays, as they offer enhanced functionality while reducing the size of optical systems. Other potential applications include material sorting and quality control, medical imaging, microscopy, and solar cells. Furthermore, robotics and autonomous driving, which rely on object recognition, could greatly benefit from advancements in meta-optics technology.
KIT/C. Könemann, 12.03.2025
Note: The article has been translated from German to English. It is based on a press release from KIT.
The original press release can be found at:
Effiziente Lichtsteuerung: Metaoptiken ersetzen herkömmliche Linsen (only in german)
Localization in Helmholtz Information:
Helmholtz Information, Program 3: Materials Systems Engineering, Topic 2: Optics & Photonics: Materials, Devices, and Systems
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Martin Wegener
Institute of Nanotechnology
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Phone: +49 721 608-28951
E-Mail: martin.wegener@kit.edu
Dr. Maryna Leonidivna Meretska
Institute of Nanotechnology
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Tel.: +49 721 608-28947
E-Mail: maryna.meretska@kit.edu
Contact for this press release:
Christian Könemann
Press Officer
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Phone: +49 721-608-41105
E-Mail: christian.koenemann@kit.edu
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