coder Princess Leia's holographic
plea in the classic film "Star
Wars" inspired researchers
to work toward a device that
could project real-life sci-fi
holograms. Now, the
futuristic 3D imaging may be
one step closer to reality.
A team of physicists at the
Australian National University
(ANU) invented a tiny device
that creates the highest-
quality holographic images
ever achieved, the scientists
said.

Study lead researcher Lei
Wang, a Ph.D. student at the
ANU Research School of
Physics and Engineering, said
he first learned about the
concept of holographic
imaging from the "Star
Wars" movies. However,
these futuristic-looking 3D
images could be used for
more practical ends than
sending messages from a
galaxy far, far away. [Photos:
Microsoft's HoloLens
Transforms Surroundings
with Holographic Tech ]
"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
ultrathin and lightweight
optical devices for cameras
and satellites," Wang said in
a statement.
Photographs and computer
screens display information
only in 2D, limiting views to
flat images. Holograms,
however, allow for the
storage and reproduction of
all information in 3D, and the
technology relies on the
ability to accurately
manipulate light in three
dimensions, the researchers
said.

The ANU invention uses a
new nanomaterial to create
the 3D projections. Millions of
tiny silicon pillars, each up to
500 times thinner than a
human hair, act as pixel
projectors to create the light-
based 3D images, said co-
lead researcher Sergey Kruk,
a professor at 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," Kruk said in the
statement.
In lab tests, the device
created tiny holograms
ranging in size from 0.03
inches to 0.2 inches (0.75
millimeters to 5 mm) wide, at
a distance of 0.4 inches (10
mm). While the technology is
not yet ready to replace
computer screens, with
further research, the device
could lead to new and better
holographic technologies,
the scientists said.
The device's ability to display
the 3D holograms is only part
of what makes it innovative,
however, Wang said. Due to
its miniature size, the
invention could replace bulky
camera components or help
space missions by reducing
the size and weight of
optical systems, he said.
Details of the new study
were published online Dec.
20 in the journal Optica.
Original article on Live
Science.