Star Wars style 3D holograms could soon be a reality

Scientists have invented a tiny device that creates the highest quality 3D holographic images ever achieved, paving the way to imaging technologies seen in science fiction movies such as Star Wars.

The team created complex holographic images in infrared with the invention that could be developed with industry, said lead researcher Lei Wang, a PhD student at The Australian National University (ANU). "As a child, I learned about the concept of holographic imaging from the Star Wars movies. It's really cool to be working on an invention that uses the principles of holography depicted in those movies," said Wang.

Holograms perform the most complex manipulations of light. They enable the storing and reproduction of all information carried by light in 3D. In contrast, standard photographs and computer monitors capture and display only a portion of 2D information. "While research in holography plays an important role in the development of futuristic displays and augmented reality devices, today we are working on many other applications such as ultra-thin and light-weight optical devices for cameras and satellites," Wang said.

He said the device could replace bulky components to miniaturise cameras and save costs in astronomical missions by reducing the size and weight of optical systems on spacecraft. The device consisted of millions of tiny silicon pillars, each up to 500 times thinner than a human hair, said Sergey Kruk, from the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering. "This new material is transparent, which means it loses minimal energy from the light, and it also does complex manipulations with light," said Kruk. "Our ability to structure materials at the nanoscale allows the device to achieve new optical properties that go beyond the properties of natural materials. The holograms that we made demonstrate the strong potential of this technology to be used in a range of applications," he added.