New optical microscope breaks the theoretical barriers of magnification

[bojan]

This is amazing:
http://www.photonicsonline.com/article.mvc/Microscope-Could-Solve-The-Cause-Of-Viral-0001?user=92094&source=nl:30271

I am still not sure how it works - but it may have some impact on telescope design as well....

[CraigS]

Not sure ... but I'd guess it has something to do with the latest in Luneberg lens development …
Physicists craft Luneburg lens from silicon (http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/44875)



Its all about achieving the best resolution possible .. and there's better resolution yet to come.

An amazing technological development !

Cheers

[mswhin63]

yes it looks pretty good, but I don't think it will solve astronomical magnification purely because the atmosphere causes so much problem.

[bojan]

Craig,
I don't think it is the same as Luneberg lens..
They are mentioning theoretical limits - and microscope magnification is limited by wavelength used (in other words, diffraction)..

[Kal]

Interesting.

I found this article (http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=46128) which has some more information and some pictures showing the results of using the technology.

[CraigS]

Try this … Superlens. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superlens)

Cheers