[roel_v]

Because if it's possible in lab circumstances today, then it'll probably be possible in less restrictive circumstances in 10 years?

There are so many papers published based on very artificial circumstances on stuff that is later developed into usable things...

[alkonaut]

The resolution and light gathering requirements should be pretty easy to analyze on paper to answer the question "will this ever be usable in practice"? The fact that this isn't done could suggest that the answer really is no, so the authors omitted it.

I'm sceptic that it will ever be even close to usable assuming sensor tech wont improve much and we don't reach some breakthrough in optics, i.e. bending light without huge heavy chunks of glass.

This experiment with huge flash guns and short distances is essentially like identifying the moon in an eye reflection and dreaming of doing deep space imaging the same way. The physics just don't allow it.

[roel_v]

"The resolution and light gathering requirements should be pretty easy to analyze on paper"

Then why don't you?

[alkonaut]

Because I meant it should be easy for the guys who wrote this article, not for me. If I did them no one would believe me (and they shouldn't!).