Posted on 05/06/2007 5:18:45 AM PDT by Reaganesque
May 4, 2007 A computer model designed by a mathematician at the University of Liverpool has shown that it is possible to make objects, such as aeroplanes and submarines, appear invisible at close range. Scientists have already created an ‘invisibility cloak’ made out of ‘metamaterial’ which can bend electromagnetic radiation – such as visible light, radar or microwaves – around a spherical space, making an object within this region appear invisible. Until now, scientists could only make objects appear invisible from far away. Liverpool mathematician Dr Sébastien Guenneau, together with Dr Frédéric Zolla and Professors André Nicolet from the University of Marseille, have proven - using a computer model called GETDP - that objects can also be made to appear invisible from close range when light travels in waves rather than beams. Scientists predict that metamaterials could be of use in military technology, such as in the construction of fighter jets and submarines, but it will be some years before invisibility cloaks can be developed for human beings.
Dr Guenneau, at the University’s Department of Mathematical Science, explains: “The shape and structure of aeroplanes make them ideal objects for cloaking, as they have a fixed structure and movement pattern. Human beings and animals are more difficult as their movement is very flexible, so the cloak - as it is designed at the moment - would easily be seen when the person or animal made any sudden movement.
“A cloak, such as the one worn by the Harry Potter character for example, is not yet possible but it is a good example of what we are trying to move towards. Using this new computer model we can prove that light can bend around an object under a cloak and is not diffracted by the object. This happens because the metamaterial that makes up the cloak stretches the metrics of space, in a similar way to what heavy planets and stars do for the metrics of space-time in Einstein’s general relativity theory.
“In order for the cloaking device to work in the first place light has to separate into two or more waves resulting in a new wave pattern. Within this pattern we get light and dark regions which are needed in order for an object to appear invisible.
“Until now, however, it was not clear whether photons – particles that make up all forms of light – can split and form new waves when the light source is close to the object. If we use ray optic techniques – where light travels in beams - photons break down at close range and the object does not appear invisible. If we study light as it travels in waves however, invisibility is maintained.”
Scientists predict that invisibility will be possible for objects of any shape and size within the next decade.
The research into cloaking devices is led by Professor Sir John Pendry and includes researchers at Imperial College London and Duke University (USA), Marseille University and the French Centre National Recherche Scientifique. The research findings are published in Optic Letters.
Here's a picture of the cloak:
;-)
” Scientists move a step closer to being able to make objects invisible “
“Invisibility” is a natural phenomenon — just try to find your keys when you’re late for work.....
Or a complete pair of socks...
Nice read!
Cool, but you can't hide that scene of a Minnesota blizzard from me!
They're in the ignition of the car right where they always are if the car is home.
Or that 12th sock from the 6 pairs in the washer..
Sloppy science reporting. Particles or waves...no such thing as beams in this context.
” Now they are all match so pick any two and you have a pair. “
Ah, yes — the “Batchelor Sock Solution”...
Simple, elegant, practical, and incomprehensible to women....
;~)
(Dodging brickbats mode...)
Ain’t that the truth? I have a family curse here too. Anything and everything that I drop on the floor immediately transports itself to the fartherest corner of the universe.
There you go! And they say guys are dumb!
One possible application would be for spacecraft to make them invisible to harmful radiation. Cool, huh?
That was probably just a set up for the "You have you no color sense," so are therefor inherently inferior belittlement technique.
Donning flame resistant PPE now.
Whats new here? Anything below the horizon is very very difficult to see.
Even more important, there is no such thing as metamaterial. And if there were, what would be its effect on its immediate surroundings? (Consider that fairly intense gravitational fields are required to bend light (never mind creating space-time distortion).) (This is sort of like the genetic sequence assemblers from the original "Jurrasic Park." Pretty good technology, if you can get it.)
"Nope, sarge; can't tell WHAT it is. But you sure can tell WHERE it is, based on all the sh*t clinging to it! Umm...okay, sarge. I'll just aim for center mass."
Some camouflage.
Nope, I'll stick with the old LED environmental emulator suit a la "Predator." (Although based on the grid over "it's" skin, it probably uses holographic projection instead.)
(Oh, silly me! It's just a movie...for now.)
You forgot your gloves!
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