Terahertz Lenses 3D Printed

Discussion in 'Physics & Math' started by Schneibster, May 1, 2016.

  1. Schneibster Registered Member

    Messages:
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    This lens allows sharp focusing of terahertz radiation which was not previously possible.

    Two novel techniques combine to form this new technological breakthrough:

    Nanotechnology permits the design of nanofeatures in the material the lens is made of which create a varying index of refraction within the lens, allowing it to be constructed in a single unit, unlike lenses for visible light, which use materials with a single index of refraction, combined in various ways to cancel out the aberrations introduced by the various materials particularly in the handling of different frequencies. Thus we have doublets and triplets of varying types of glass, including exotics like fluorites, working together to form a single sharp image. In this lens, there is and need be only one element to form sharp images across the terahertz band, and this is much simpler and therefore much cheaper to design and build.

    But the real breakthrough is combining this with 3D printing to make the nanofeatures right inside the lens, with varying characteristics at different locations in it, then add another layer on top with more and different nanofeatures. And to do so very inexpensively.

    These things will have all sorts of uses, including replacing diagnostic X-rays save in a few applications where nothing else will do, replacing contraband detection procedures in airports with devices that can make explosives, biological weapons, and drugs light up on a display. No more long lines waiting to put your shoes through 20th century imaging technology.

    Pretty picture of the design of the lens:

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    Linkie: http://phys.org/news/2016-04-light-powered-d-printer-terahertz-lens.html

    Worth a read.
     

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