 |
 |
Prototype flat lense telescope unveiled
| April 6th, 2017 at 11:47:35 AM permalink | |
| kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4519 | Canadian firm NexOptic has unveiled it's prototype FLAT lense telescope. The prototype has the same power as a 1 meter long telescope and is clearer. Guess we didn't know everything about bending light that we thought we did. This is still an optical device not computer enhancement. It will revolutionize optics and likely make traditional curved lenses obsolete. NexOptik Telescope "but if you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." Benjamin Franklin |
| April 7th, 2017 at 9:26:50 AM permalink | |
| Ayecarumba Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 89 Posts: 1744 | Outside of cellphone cameras, I don't see the advantage of a flat design. If want to see planets circling stars in other systems, it seems logical that curved lens and mirrors provide greater light gathering capability in less space. How big would a flat lens have to be to provide the equivalent of a 1000x optical zoom? |
| April 7th, 2017 at 10:05:48 AM permalink | |
| Nareed Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 346 Posts: 12545 |
The link reads like a press release, and in no part does it explain how a flat surface can concentrate light. Astronomical telescopes don't use lenses anyway, not for concentrating light. They use mirrors (there may be lenses as part of the secondary optics dealing with focus and fine adjustments). Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER |
| April 7th, 2017 at 10:06:16 AM permalink | |
| Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 |
If you read the article, that is the primary focus of the technology. |
| April 7th, 2017 at 12:44:52 PM permalink | |
| kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4519 |
That is what we have heard for 400 years but that small box in the picture on site I linked to out performs a 3' long telescope with less distortion. "but if you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." Benjamin Franklin |
| April 7th, 2017 at 12:49:33 PM permalink | |
| kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4519 |
The mirrors are curved and are in effect the lenses. The technology has been vetted and works. It seems impossible from what we have been taught. There is major interest in using them on space craft from the major reduction in size from existing technology. "but if you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." Benjamin Franklin |
| April 7th, 2017 at 1:02:42 PM permalink | |
| kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4519 |
I think their focus is much wider from having listened to interviews with the inventors. Smart phones are probably the largest market that can be developed quickly, unless the eye glass use can be developed and accepted. Eye glasses to replace those that currently have 'coke bottle' glasses is probably a no brainer. If it catches on every one of the new smart phones coming out will need to have the technology for 10's of millions of sales. I think time will show this is a major development that will obsolete many of the current curved lense technologies. "but if you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." Benjamin Franklin |
| April 7th, 2017 at 1:17:26 PM permalink | |
| Nareed Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 346 Posts: 12545 |
Nope. A lens refracts light. a mirror reflects it. Reflection and refraction are distinctly different things.
No. I can think of ways of doing it. Plain flat pane glass refracts light. All transparent media do. Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER |
| April 7th, 2017 at 3:01:08 PM permalink | |
| kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4519 |
|
| April 7th, 2017 at 3:33:37 PM permalink | |
| Nareed Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 346 Posts: 12545 |
Again, no. Mirrors don't produce chromatic aberrations, for example. They produce other kinds of aberrations (you can't have everything).
You can begin with layers with different refractive indexes, for one thing. That bends the light in a more controlled fashion. You may create crystals within the glass, or between layers of glass, they bend the light in a predictable way. That's why the philosophy of science is relevant. One school of thought is that everything that's not forbidden is possible. Another says everything that's not forbidden is mandatory. The difference is subtle, but profound. School 1 says if, say, flat lenses are not forbidden by the laws of physics, then someone might make them. School two maintains if they are possible, then they must exist somewhere in the universe. Anyway, thinner, flatter lenses have been a thing for, literally, many decades: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER |