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UCSD Metasurface Captures Sunspots, Triggers NASA Space Study

6/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

UC San Diego researchers deployed a metasurface at the Dunn Solar Telescope to image sunspots.
The metasurface splits sunlight into several polarization channels in a single snapshot, eliminating rotating optics and avoiding vibration-induced blur that previously required stabilization.
Nanoscale structures etched on the component manipulate light beyond conventional optics.
The metasurface data matched NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory observations, prompting a NASA mission study to fly the device in space.

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Story summary

UC San Diego researchers deployed a metasurface at the Dunn Solar Telescope to image sunspots.
The metasurface splits sunlight into several polarization channels in a single snapshot, eliminating rotating optics and avoiding vibration-induced blur that previously required stabilization.
Nanoscale structures etched on the component manipulate light beyond conventional optics.
The metasurface data matched NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory observations, prompting a NASA mission study to fly the device in space.