Smaller, cheaper, sharper lenses should be possible as Mexican scientist solves aberration problem

Smaller, cheaper, sharper lenses should be possible as Mexican scientist solves aberration problem

Previous posts on the subject - an advance, but issues exist.

The formula is titled:

"General (universal?) Formula for designing a single bi-aspherical lens"

 

I've underlined the word single, because not all important aberrations can be solved in a singlet lens, and the 'wobbly' surfaces shown preclude matching with other lenses for the correction of, for example, colour aberrations. As well as presenting huge manufacturing challenges.

 

I would take this as purely an exercise in theoretical mathematics, and nothing more.

I would take this as purely an exercise in theoretical mathematics, and nothing more.

 

AFAIK Rafael González-Acuña is a Ph.D. student in a physics department, and he has been publishing in physics journals.

I skimmed the paper. They solve a problem of correcting the spherical aberration caused by the first surface of a lens by the second surface, for imaging a single dot. The first surface can be arbitrary, e.g. a wavy form but cannot induce ray crossing within the lens. This seems to be very different from optical lens design where the object and image is not just one point but a (usually planar) surface; and the first surface of a lens is not arbitrary (and certainly not wavy).

This IS actually a significant advance although it might take some time before we see any benefits. This isn't just about singlet lenses. But, you have to remember that most of the other elements are there to correct the problems that occur with singlet lenses. Some also work to create retro-focus and telephoto lenses. But, the ability to correct for spherical aberration in a single element is significant.

But, the ability to correct for spherical aberration in a single element is significant.

The ability to theoretically correct for spherical aberration....

 

The surfaces shown, although the 'waviness' is doubtless exaggerated, will require an entirely novel manufacturing process. There are already challenges in producing 'simple' bi-radial aspherical surfaces, let alone ones with continuously varying surface contours.

 

I can see that it might have applications in the design of Fresnel or diffractive elements, but I doubt we're going to see that type of solid refractive element in our camera lenses anytime soon. If ever.

They currently mold aspheric lenses for many applications. Once you are molding something the actual shape becomes trivial. Yes . . . It took a while for aspheric elements to become as common as they are now. That's because no company is going to sit down and redesign an entire line of lenses and modify their manufacturing process to add molding and polishing of a "new" shape of lens element. The same goes here. This is an evolutionary change in technology not a revolutionary one. At some point in the next five years we MAY (this is after all still going to be reviewed by those who do this sort of thing for a living and theories are often disproved and discarded) some lens designer will be given the job of redesigning some lens or other and will come up with the idea of using this technology. The company will decide if it can add the new molds, produce the elements and the designed lens assembly and then sell it at a profit.