University of Utah develops revolutionary flat telescope lens

Engineers and astronomers at the University of Utah have created a new type of telescope lens that could change how we capture images of space. This innovative lens is flat and uses tiny etchings to bend light, making it much lighter than traditional lenses and mirrors. The team, led by Apratim Majumder and Rajesh Menon, believes these flat lenses could eventually replace the heavy equipment used in both professional and amateur telescopes. The new lens measures less than a millimeter thick and is designed to focus light across the visible spectrum without color distortion, a common problem with larger lenses. Traditional telescopes come in two types: refractors, which use lenses, and reflectors, which use mirrors. Large lenses can be heavy and expensive, so larger telescopes often rely on mirrors. This new lens avoids chromatic aberration—a problem where colors focus at different points—by using concentric rings etched into glass. Testing of the prototype lens has been successful. It was used in a telescope aimed at the sun and the moon, delivering clear images of sunspots and lunar features. The new lens weighs only 25 grams, significantly less than traditional lenses of similar size, which can weigh over 200 grams. This development could greatly benefit future space telescopes, which require lightweight equipment to launch effectively. The researchers hope to create even larger, more powerful flat lenses in the future.