Cutting-edge development dramatically reduces the size and weight of lenses
Combined with holographic displays, achromatic metalens delivers high-resolution images with less eye strain in promising next-generation displays
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that it has published a joint research paper with Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) detailing the development of an innovative achromatic metalens in the renowned academic journal Nature Materials.
The paper, titled “Roll-to-plate printable RGB-achromatic metalens for wide-field-of-view holographic near-eye displays,” reflects the findings of research conducted by Samsung and POSTECH’s joint research team, wherein they developed an achromatic metalens free from color distortions and combined it with holographic displays to overcome various optical aberrations. This innovation paves the way for compact yet high-quality holographic XR wearable devices and applications in cameras and sensors.
Dr. Seokil Moon from Samsung Research and Professor Junsuk Rho from POSTECH led the study, with researchers Minseok Choi, Joohoon Kim and Kilsoo Shin from POSTECH also listed as co-authors of the paper.
Overcoming Conventional Chromatic Aberration Limitations To Achieve a Compact Achromatic Metalens
A metalens is a flat lens composed of nanoscale structures capable of controlling light diffraction, which can drastically reduce the size and thickness compared to traditional convex optical lenses[1]. For this reason, it has been recognised as a next-generation optical component for applications in displays and cameras, sparking over a decade of research.
Despite these advantages, metalenses have encountered technical challenges in product development due to severe chromatic aberration,[2] which leads to significant image distortion.
Previous efforts to eliminate chromatic aberration in metalenses relied on designing individual metastructures independently and subsequently assembling them onto a substrate. As a result, the interrelationships between structures were overlooked during the design phase, preventing the complete reduction of chromatic aberration in the final lens.
The research team overcame the challenge of chromatic aberration reduction by redefining the conventional design approach for metalenses. By accounting for the interrelationships between all metastructures during the design phase and designing them simultaneously, the team has successfully eliminated chromatic aberration after fabrication.
In addition to eliminating chromatic aberration, the achromatic metalens developed by the team also achieves a shorter focal length, significantly reducing the lens’ size and weight[3].
Higher Resolution and Less Eye Strain With a Single Lens
Typically, metalenses exhibit various optical aberrations beyond chromatic aberration, with image distortion worsening as screen size increases. These issues have traditionally been addressed by combining multiple lenses. However, the research team has resolved various optical aberrations within the device by integrating a single achromatic metalens with a holographic display, achieving a wide field of view and distortion-free, high-quality images.
Additionally, through technical validation, the research team has demonstrated that substituting conventional optical lenses and displays with achromatic metalenses and holographic displays enables the delivery of compact, lightweight and virtual images that cause less eye strain[4].
The findings of this study are anticipated to be applied to immersive media devices such as those equipped with extended reality (XR) capabilities. They will also be used in various optical systems — including displays, cameras and sensors — to enhance performance and reduce size.
Through this collaboration between industry and academia, Samsung has validated the entire process — from conceptualising innovative ideas to implementation — confirming the potential for advancing various future optical systems and securing next-generation display technologies.
Samsung remains committed to ongoing research efforts, aiming to secure groundbreaking technologies that will shape the future through continued collaborations with academia and other industry-leading initiatives.
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