"Advancements in Ultra-flat Optics for Broadband Thermal Imaging"

A multi-institutional research team, led by the University of Washington, has developed ultra-thin meta-optics for broadband thermal imaging, addressing the need for lighter and thinner imaging systems with uncompromising image quality. Leveraging a new design framework called "MTF-engineering," which incorporates artificial intelligence and a figure of merit, the team demonstrated thermal imaging with meta-optics in both laboratory and real-world settings. The research represents a significant step toward achieving imaging quality comparable to commercial refractive lens systems, and the team has made their framework available for use in designing meta-optics.