Portable astronomical observation system based on large-aperture concentric-ring metalens
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 17-May-2025 13:09 ET (17-May-2025 17:09 GMT/UTC)
The research team of Wang Jianli of the Chun Institute of Optics, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made progress in the observation of space objects based on metalens. In this study, the 2D concentric-ring structure, which is easier to process, is used as the basic configuration of the metalens, and the 2D meta-atoms are designed to be compatible with transverse electromagnetic wave and Transverse magnetic wave modes .Therefore, a portable telescopic system with a concentric-ring metalens with a diameter of 5cm as the main lens was developed, which achieve high-resolution detection within a 20° field of view, and further advances the deep application of metalens in the field of astronomical observation.
Addressing the longstanding challenges of multi-mode fiber (MMF) transmission, the research team led by Prof. Qiming Zhang and Associate Prof. Haoyi Yu from the School of Artificial Intelligence Science and Technology (SAIST) at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST) has introduced a groundbreaking solution. The team successfully integrated miniaturized multilayer optical diffractive neural networks (DN2s) onto the distal end of MMFs, enabling full-optical image transmission. Regarded as an ONN, the free-space diffractive neural networks (DN2s), have been proposed as more efficient ANN approaches based on deep learning to directly process the optical matrix multiplication at the speed of light, and realizing the high number of connectivity in ANNs, such as optical image classification, decryption and phase detection.
Measurements and data collected from space can be used to better understand life on Earth.
An ambitious, multinational research project funded by NASA and co-led by UC Merced civil and environmental engineering Professor Erin Hestir demonstrated that Earth’s biodiversity can be monitored and measured from space, leading to a better understanding of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Hestir led the team alongside University of Buffalo geography Professor Adam Wilson and Professor Jasper Slingsby from the University of Cape Town on BioSCape, which collected data over six weeks in late 2024.
Applied Microbiology International has announced that it is partnering with the Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum (MLSFF) conference, which takes place at the end of March.
Life scientists across the UK are invited to MLSFF, which is the first event of its kind in Europe, and is designed to foster an inclusive and collaborative space for scientists from minoritised and underrepresented backgrounds.