The capabilities of the MDL have been demonstrated through high-quality images of the Moon and Sun, showcasing geological features and visible sunspots.

Menon and his team envision these lenses being utilized in both professional observatories and amateur telescopes, expanding access to advanced astronomical imaging.

Engineers and astronomers at the University of Utah have developed a groundbreaking flat telescope lens that could replace the traditional heavy lenses and mirrors used in telescopes.

This innovative lens, known as the Multi-level Diffractive Lens (MDL), utilizes microscopically small concentric rings to focus all wavelengths of light simultaneously, overcoming the limitations of previous flat lens designs.

This reduction in weight and size could transform imaging systems in aircraft, satellites, and space-based telescopes, making the MDL particularly advantageous for space missions where weight is critical.

By integrating the MDL with a refractive achromatic lens, researchers have created a hybrid telescope design that significantly reduces weight for airborne and space-based applications.

The lens employs grayscale optical lithography, a technique typically used for etching electronics, to create its complex microstructure.

Led by Professor Rajesh Menon, the research team collaborated with Oblate Optics Inc. to bring this technology to fruition, with their findings published in the journal Applied Physics Letters.

The successful development of the MDL could position flat lenses as a standard alternative to conventional refractive systems in future telescopes.

Overall, this advancement in lens technology could significantly impact telescope design, enhancing both functionality and practicality in the field of astronomy.

Unlike existing flat lenses, such as Fresnel Zone Plate lenses, the MDL effectively eliminates chromatic aberration, ensuring true-color images across the visible spectrum.

The design features a 100mm (4-inch) flat lens that is less than a millimeter thick and weighs only 25 grams (0.88 oz), a significant reduction compared to the 211 grams (7.44 oz) of a similarly sized traditional lens.