We demonstrate a 100 mm-diameter, 2.4 m-thick multilevel diffractive lens (MDL) with a 200 mm focal length, optimized for the 400 to 800 nm wavelength range—specifications that are difficult to achieve even with complex multi-element refractive systems. Created using an inverse-design approach and grayscale lithography, the MDL achieves achromatic focusing, confirmed through hyperspectral point-spread function (PSF) characterization. Imaging experiments resolved spatial frequencies up to 181 lp/mm and demonstrated the MDL's capability in capturing high-quality, full-color images of the moon, sun, and distant terrestrial scenes. Color-enhanced lunar images revealed key geological features, while solar imaging identified visible sunspots. Additionally, the MDL was integrated with a refractive achromatic lens to form a hybrid telescope, significantly reducing weight for airborne and space-based imaging applications. Simulations and experimental results reported here underscore the potential of large-area achromatic flat lenses as lightweight alternatives to conventional refractive systems for astrophotography and other long-range imaging tasks.
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3 February 2025
Research Article|
February 03 2025
Color astrophotography with a 100 mm-diameter f/2 polymer flat lens

Apratim Majumder
;
Apratim Majumder
(Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah
, 50 Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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Monjurul Meem
;
Monjurul Meem
a)
(Methodology, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah
, 50 Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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Alexander Ingold
;
Alexander Ingold
(Software)
1
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah
, 50 Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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Paul Ricketts
;
Paul Ricketts
(Data curation, Formal analysis, Resources, Software, Writing – review & editing)
2
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah
, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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Tanner Obray
;
Tanner Obray
(Resources)
2
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah
, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
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Nicole Brimhall
;
Nicole Brimhall
(Software)
3
Oblate Optics, Inc. San Diego
, California 92130, USA
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Rajesh Menon
Rajesh Menon
b)
(Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing)
1
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah
, 50 Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
3
Oblate Optics, Inc. San Diego
, California 92130, USA
b)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
Apratim Majumder
1
Monjurul Meem
1,a)
Alexander Ingold
1
Paul Ricketts
2
Tanner Obray
2
Nicole Brimhall
3
Rajesh Menon
1,3,b)
1
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Utah
, 50 Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
2
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah
, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
3
Oblate Optics, Inc. San Diego
, California 92130, USA
b)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
a)
Present address: Intel Corp. Hilsboro, Oregon 97124, USA.
Appl. Phys. Lett. 126, 051701 (2025)
Article history
Received:
October 02 2024
Accepted:
January 05 2025
Connected Content
A companion article has been published:
Large diameter diffractive lens enables detailed imaging in air and space
Citation
Apratim Majumder, Monjurul Meem, Alexander Ingold, Paul Ricketts, Tanner Obray, Nicole Brimhall, Rajesh Menon; Color astrophotography with a 100 mm-diameter f/2 polymer flat lens. Appl. Phys. Lett. 3 February 2025; 126 (5): 051701. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0242208
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