<p>Conventional lenses, which bend light through glass or plastic, are often bulky, heavy, and offer limited control over light waves. In contrast, metaoptics, consisting of flat surfaces with tiny structures called metaatoms, allow for precise control of light, including its phase, amplitude, and polarization. This precision enables the replacement of multiple optical components with a single metaoptical surface, reducing the size of optical systems without compromising their performance.</p><p>At the Hannover Messe, researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) demonstrated an optical component that enables highly efficient light control at steep incident angles, overcoming previous limitations. The researchers developed a metagrating with four times the efficiency of conventional systems, allowing unprecedented control over light under challenging conditions.</p><p>Metaoptics are particularly suitable for cameras, sensors, and augmented-reality displays due to their ability to enhance functionality while reducing the size of optical systems. Potential applications include material sorting, quality control, medical imaging, microscopy, and solar cells. They could also significantly benefit robotics and autonomous driving, which rely on object recognition.</p>