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There's a link to another article at the bottom of this one that hints at other possible uses. http://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2014/05/collaborative-metasurfac

There's a link to another article at the bottom of this one that hints at other possible uses. http://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2014/05/collaborative-metasurfaces-grant-to-merge-classical-and-quantum-physics http://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2014/05/collaborative-metas... What's really interesting about this is that the metasurface lenses might be very useful in other high-precision optics: for example, densely packed multicolor DVDs? Perhaps even optical imaging of very, very small materials without the need for electron microscopy. Who knows?

Dylan16807 12y ago
Optical discs are generally using the smallest light they can manage, can colors even help? Plus they're focusing on a single point, so I don't think chromatic aberration would be much of a problem in the first place. If they can play fancy tricks to get a smaller focal point relative to wavelength, that would be a powerful improvement. But still probably monochrome discs.
- MrLeap 12y ago
  This reminds me of an explanation I read a long time ago for why FM radio is so much clearer than AM. This doesn't really approach your question of informational density, but I thought it was interesting. If you're driving down the road and someone is shining two lights through the trees. One is white light and merely changes brightness, while the other rotates through three colors. Which light is easier for you to detect changing?
- tomswartz07 12y ago
  It could be something akin to holography. To put it simply, they can have the same optical density, but re-write over it several times in other colors. The same lens can observe and read the exact point, interpreting the data in (for example) blue, green, and red.
  - Dylan16807 12y ago
    That is something that's possible, but I doubt its practicality. The longer wavelengths can't store as much data even under ideal conditions, and squeezing them in causes interference that hurts the density you have on the best wavelength. Plus you would need a much more elaborate disc-pressing mechanism. Much simpler to add more monochrome layers.
- saeguaiga 12y ago
  #insert StdBarbieDigsOnOpticalMedia, StdISoldMyBackyardKilnAndNowDoFCGLitho, StdWarOnShinyDeadlyBooksJustGotReal Hence, not BD with Photo/ECC tracking tricks to follow on -large F -focus -small dots, but with the same (entire floor of) few-layer DVD cleanroom litho, make a run of discs with -lower bitrot 5 ways -tolerance for laser aging -capacity nerfing from quantum phase encoding that really begs the question 'why is this not better used, in service of semiconductor (diamond or otherwise) vertical activity rather than introspective disc PHY?'
soylentcola 12y ago
I admit that I'm biased toward personal interests and hobbies but my first thought was an Oculus Rift that fits more like a pair of shades than a pair of ski goggles. And of course the ever-present dream of "smart" contact lenses that can adjust how incoming light is magnified on an adaptive basis or offer AR functionality without any headgear at all. Obviously that sort of application is years away regardless of how this particular project works out. Still, this stuff does lead to some fun brainstorms and geeky fantasies.

Dylan16807 12y ago

Optical discs are generally using the smallest light they can manage, can colors even help? Plus they're focusing on a single point, so I don't think chromatic aberration would be much of a problem in the first place. If they can play fancy tricks to get a smaller focal point relative to wavelength, that would be a powerful improvement. But still probably monochrome discs.

MrLeap 12y ago
This reminds me of an explanation I read a long time ago for why FM radio is so much clearer than AM. This doesn't really approach your question of informational density, but I thought it was interesting. If you're driving down the road and someone is shining two lights through the trees. One is white light and merely changes brightness, while the other rotates through three colors. Which light is easier for you to detect changing?
tomswartz07 12y ago
It could be something akin to holography. To put it simply, they can have the same optical density, but re-write over it several times in other colors. The same lens can observe and read the exact point, interpreting the data in (for example) blue, green, and red.
- Dylan16807 12y ago
  That is something that's possible, but I doubt its practicality. The longer wavelengths can't store as much data even under ideal conditions, and squeezing them in causes interference that hurts the density you have on the best wavelength. Plus you would need a much more elaborate disc-pressing mechanism. Much simpler to add more monochrome layers.
saeguaiga 12y ago
#insert StdBarbieDigsOnOpticalMedia, StdISoldMyBackyardKilnAndNowDoFCGLitho, StdWarOnShinyDeadlyBooksJustGotReal Hence, not BD with Photo/ECC tracking tricks to follow on -large F -focus -small dots, but with the same (entire floor of) few-layer DVD cleanroom litho, make a run of discs with -lower bitrot 5 ways -tolerance for laser aging -capacity nerfing from quantum phase encoding that really begs the question 'why is this not better used, in service of semiconductor (diamond or otherwise) vertical activity rather than introspective disc PHY?'

soylentcola 12y ago

I admit that I'm biased toward personal interests and hobbies but my first thought was an Oculus Rift that fits more like a pair of shades than a pair of ski goggles. And of course the ever-present dream of "smart" contact lenses that can adjust how incoming light is magnified on an adaptive basis or offer AR functionality without any headgear at all. Obviously that sort of application is years away regardless of how this particular project works out. Still, this stuff does lead to some fun brainstorms and geeky fantasies.