Re: Negative Index Hype


"Charles Attends" wrote

snip

> Dr Tom Mackay, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Mathematics,
said: ?Through its simplicity, this method

> represents an exciting breakthrough for inexpensive exploitation of
negative refraction technologies. The prospects

> for near-perfect lenses, and beyond, brings dreams a step closer to
reality.?

How will a negative index will bring us "near-perfect lenses"?

As an optical engineer / designer I think that the best lenses produced
nowadays are remarkably close to "near-perfection" (as with
photo-lithographic lenses) in spite of the limits imposed by physics and
mathematics , but of course I am highly biased.

How will this help us overcome the present limitations of geometrical and
physical optics (Fermat's principle, diffraction and all) I do not know.

I am not negative (sic) about this development, however what I think is that
important discoveries often lead to totally novel and unexpected
applications.


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