Credits:
Courtesy of the researchers
Caption:
This magnified image of the metalens shows its microscopic features.
Credits:
Courtesy of the researchers
Caption:
This image shows an optical-microscope view of the metalens.
Credits:
Courtesy of the researchers
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Polished glass has been at the center of imaging systems for centuries. Their precise curvature enables lenses to focus light and produce sharp images, whether the object in view is a single cell, the page of a book, or a far-off galaxy.
Changing focus to see clearly at all these scales typically requires physically moving a lens, by tilting, sliding, or otherwise shifting the lens, usually with the help of mechanical parts that add to the bulk of microscopes and telescopes.