Experimental demonstration of high space compression by optical spaceplates

Experimental demonstration of high space compression by optical spaceplates | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Experimental demonstration of high space compression by optical spaceplates Jeff Lundeen, Ryan Hogan, Yaryna Mamchur, R. Margoth Córdova-Castro, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7715151/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 20 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The large physical size of optical imaging systems is one of the greatest constraints on their use, limiting the performance and deployment of a range of systems from telescopes to mobile phone cameras. Spaceplates are nonlocal optical devices that compress free-space propagation into a shorter distance, paving the way for more compact optical systems, potentially even thin flat cameras. Here, we demonstrate the first engineered optical spaceplate and experimentally observe the highest space compression ratios yet demonstrated in any wavelength region, up to R=176±14, which is 29 times higher than any previous device. Our spaceplate is a multilayer stack, a well-established commercial fabrication technology that supports mass production. The versatility of these stacks allows for the freedom to customize the spaceplate's bandwidth and angular range, impossible with previous optical experimental spaceplates, which were made of bulk materials. With the appropriate choice of these two parameters, multilayer spaceplates have near-term applications in light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technologies, retinal scanners, endoscopes, and other size-constrained optical devices. Physical sciences/Optics and photonics/Optical materials and structures/Metamaterials Physical sciences/Optics and photonics/Optical techniques/Imaging and sensing Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files HighCompressionMultilayerStackBasedSpaceplatesNatCommSM.pdf Supplementary Information Compiled Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 20 Apr, 2026 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7715151","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":524198784,"identity":"01169fbc-6e09-49e9-9d53-307812cb73d9","order_by":0,"name":"Jeff Lundeen","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA2ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACxnYgwQPE/MRraYZqkWxgYGw4QJQeZqgWgwPEamFu5jF78KbCJs/4RvLxxx9qDsszsB9+QMBhPOaGc86kFZvdSEtsOHDssGEDT5oBIS1m0rxthxO33cgxbDjAdpuxQYKBGC3//idungHS8u+2fYME+wcitDQcSNwgAdRysO12YoMEDyFb2Mok5xxLTpxx5lnijLN9/5PbeHIK8GoxbG/eJvGmxi6xvz35wIeKb2m2/ezHN+DX0oAuwoZXPRDIE1IwCkbBKBgFo4ABAKb8Sav62jyAAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0978-2913","institution":"University of Ottawa","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jeff","middleName":"","lastName":"Lundeen","suffix":""},{"id":524198785,"identity":"ed611bd6-8462-4d6d-aefe-a20fa4b4c148","order_by":1,"name":"Ryan Hogan","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5198-0892","institution":"Nanjing University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ryan","middleName":"","lastName":"Hogan","suffix":""},{"id":524198786,"identity":"0145c8cb-a50a-4f67-9842-58f03a2a3267","order_by":2,"name":"Yaryna Mamchur","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ottawa","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yaryna","middleName":"","lastName":"Mamchur","suffix":""},{"id":524198787,"identity":"184d8e31-c117-4135-b2fe-41167936a38c","order_by":3,"name":"R. 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