Large-Scale Optical Compression of Free-Space using an Experimental Three-Lens Spaceplate

The miniaturization of optical systems, such as microscopes, telescopes, and cameras, has long been a topic of interest for physicists. By designing smaller optical systems, we can increase their versatility and reduce their cost. Our aim is to miniaturize the space between lenses, an often neglected element in optical systems. Recently, the “spaceplate” was introduced as an optical element that compresses the effect of propagation on light into a plate [1]. Such a device must replace a slab of free-space with thickness $d_{\text{eff}}$ while only occupying a physical thickness $d$ less than $d_{\text{eff}}$ . The compression ratio, $\mathscr{R}=d_{\text{eff}}/d$ , is used to characterize spaceplate designs [1].