Telescope windows: low-vision scopes to cloaks

我们建议建立几种新型光学仪器，通过利用像素化射线光学来扩展传统射线光学设计的可能性。格拉斯哥大学的研究小组率先开发了一种名为望远镜窗（TWs）的微结构薄片，目前还处于早期演示阶段，它可以实现非常普遍的光线方向变化。它们由微型望远镜阵列组成，可以理解为像素化光学元件（每个望远镜是一个像素），在相邻像素之间的边界上，引入了透射光束的不连续。因此，TWs消除了波前的整体连续性，这反过来又在推导光线场的许多性质（因此也有局限性）时被假设。如果像素大小选择得当，像素化几乎是不明显的。这项工作的愿景是，通过用分段连续波前取代全局连续波前，光学，特别是射线光学提供的可能性可以得到显着扩展。该技术的第一个应用形成了本提案的重点：TWs可以形成在整个可见波长范围内工作的像素化变换光学（PTO）器件。TWs可以扭曲视野，就好像观察者在以相对论的速度运动。*TWs是新型、低成本、高舒适度、低视力辅助设备的基础。所有申请者都具备实现这一广泛项目的专业知识：DR是微加工领域的全球领导者，使我们能够制造TW设备。GL和JG的眼科和商业化专业知识使我们成为开发新型低视力辅助设备的理想选择。我们也是像素射线光学（JC），相对论（MH， NG），数学物理（CW）和外展（MH）方面的专家。我们现在正在申请资金，以使我们能够生产TW设备的演示，说明我们的技术的广泛适用性，评估这种设备的局限性和质量，并研究这种新型光学仪器所需的生产方法。

We propose building several novel optical instruments that extend the possibilities of conventional ray optics designs by utilising pixellated ray optics.The Glasgow team has pioneered micro-structured sheets called telescope windows (TWs), currently at the early demonstrator stage, that can perform very general light-ray-direction changes. They consist of arrays of micro-telescopes and can be understood as pixellated optical components (each telescope being a pixel) which introduce, at the boundaries between neighbouring pixels, discontinuities in the transmitted light beams. TWs therefore remove the global continuity of wave fronts, which in turn is assumed in the derivation of a number of properties (and therefore limitations) of light-ray fields. If the pixel size is chosen appropriately, the pixellation can be almost unnoticeable. The vision of this work is that, by replacing globally continuous wave fronts with piecewise continuous wave fronts, the possibilities offered by optics, specifically ray optics, can be significantly extended.The first applications of this technology form the focus of this proposal:* TWs can form pixellated transformation-optics (PTO) devices that work across the entire visible wavelength range.* TWs can distort the view as if the observer was moving at relativistic speed.*TWs form the basis of novel, low-cost, high-comfort, low-vision aids.Together, the applicants have the expertise to realise this wide-ranging project: DR is a world leader in micro-machining, enabling us to manufacture TW devices. GL and JG's ophthalmology and commercialisation expertise places us ideally to develop novel low-vision aids. We are also experts in pixellated ray optics (JC), relativity (MH, NG), mathematical physics (CW), and outreach (MH).We are applying for funding now to enable us to produce demonstrators of TW devices, illustrating the wide applicability of our technology, evaluating the limitations and quality of such devices, and investigating the production methods required for this new class of optical instrumentation.