The Photon Sieve Could Revolutionize Optics

universetoday.com ^ | 07/27/2016 | Matt Williams

[BenLurkin]

Basically, the photon sieve is a variation on the Fresnel zone plate, a form of optics that consist of tightly spaced sets of rings that alternate between the transparent and the opaque. Unlike telescopes which focus light through refraction or reflection, these plates cause light to diffract through transparent openings. On the other side, the light overlaps and is then focused onto a specific point – creating an image that can be recorded.

The photon sieve operates on the same basic principles, but with a slightly more sophisticated twist. Instead of thin openings (i.e. Fresnel zones), the sieve consists of a circular silicon lens that is dotted with millions of tiny holes. Although such a device would be potentially useful at all wavelengths, the Goddard team is specifically developing the photon sieve to answer a 50-year-old question about the Sun.

Essentially, they hope to study the Sun’s corona to see what mechanism is heating it. For some time, scientists have known that the corona and other layers of the Sun’s atmosphere (the chromosphere, the transition region, and the heliosphere) are significantly hotter than its surface. Why this is has remained a mystery. But perhaps, not for much longer.

...

In addition to shedding light on the mysteries of the Sun, a successful photon sieve could revolution optics as we know it. Rather than being forced to send massive and expensive apparatus’ into space (like the Hubble Space Telescope or the James Webb Telescope), astronomers could get all the high-resolution images they need from devices small enough to stick aboard a satellite measuring no more than a few square meters.

This would open up new venues for space research, allowing private companies and research institutions the ability to take detailed photos of distant stars, planets, and other celestial objects.

[Nifster]

The folks in optics have been trying to accomplish this and other types of ‘light weight’ensing devices for scores of years

[Redleg Duke]

That is easy...there are 588,921,345,563 SUVs, idling, and exhausting to heat the corona.

It was a secret Haliburton Project developed along with their Hurricane Machine used to target minorities, women and children and especially gays and trannies!

[CptnObvious]

Photon sieve look at a Red Laser

[faucetman]

“Basically, the photon sieve is a variation on the Fresnel zone plate”

Of course it is!

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

It was a secret Haliburton Project developed along with their Hurricane Machine used to target (...) trannies!

The ones in the SUV's? I don't get it.

[teeman8r]

stop the militarization of space!

this is just the first step towards the Photon Torpedo.

oh the huge manotee!

[broken_arrow1]

Any application for quantum physics - like wave-particle duality? Maybe trick those pesky photons into telling us which slit it actually goes through...

[03A3]

Basically, the photon sieve is a variation on the Fresnel zone plate”

Can't use the word fresnel without this pic:

[Redleg Duke]

You are not cleared for this information!

[freefdny]

Sounds like a high tech version of the old shoe box with a pin hole to watch a solar eclipse.

[Red Badger]

. For some time, scientists have known that the corona and other layers of the Sun’s atmosphere (the chromosphere, the transition region, and the heliosphere) are significantly hotter than its surface. Why this is has remained a mystery. But perhaps, not for much longer.

Heat rises..................