Ultra-lightweight lenses for Earth observation
![Novel lens components developed at Cardiff](https://cardiff.imgix.net/__data/assets/image/0007/2489254/Ultra-lightweight_Lenses_Picture.jpg?w=575&ar=16:9&q=80&auto=format)
Flat lenses based on metal-mesh metamaterial structures are being developed in collaboration with University College London.
These lenses can be used to produce a wide-field metamaterial telescope, acting as a technology demonstrator for future satellite Earth observation missions. Such a telescope, combined with Cardiff’s detector array technologies, will remove the need for optical scanning of the ground scene, offer improved optical quality compared with off-axis reflective systems, and represent a significant mass saving over “traditional” lens-based solutions.
![Professor Peter Hargrave](https://cardiff.imgix.net/__data/assets/image/0012/2498178/913807-1613140487131.jpeg?w=120&h=120&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop)
Professor Peter Hargrave
Director of Innovation and Engagement
Deputy Head of Astronomy Instrumentation Group
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
- hargravepc@cardiff.ac.uk
- +44 2920876682
![Professor Carole Tucker](https://cardiff.imgix.net/__data/assets/image/0010/977356/Carole-Tucker.jpg?w=120&h=120&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop)
Professor Carole Tucker
Astronomy Instrumentation Group
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
- carole.tucker@astro.cf.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 4144
![Professor Peter A R Ade](https://cardiff.imgix.net/__data/assets/image/0019/2501740/727174-1614337302539.jpeg?w=120&h=120&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop)
Professor Peter A R Ade
Emeritus Professor
Astronomy Instrumentation Group
Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology
- peter.ade@astro.cf.ac.uk
- +44 (0)29 2087 4643