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Scientists successfully cloak three-dimensional object in free space
Scientists at the University of Texas in Austin have successfully “cloaked” a three-dimensional object in free space for the first time. Unfortunately they were only able to do so for waves in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum, meaning we can’t actually “view” the invisibility with the naked eye.
Previous attempts at cloaking have been limited to two-dimensional objects or simply theoretical in nature. In the latest experiment, researchers were able to hide a three-dimensional cylindrical tube roughly 7.1-inches in length and 1-inch in diameter from microwaves in any direction in a natural environment.
To accomplish this marvel of science, the tube was covered by a shell coated with a plasmonic metamaterial that scatters light and electromagnetic waves. The shell is able to precisely cancel the light scattered by an object. By effectively cancelling out any light that would normally scatter off an object, it appears transparent.
There are a few drawbacks, however. At present, the cloak can only hide dielectric objects, not metal. Furthermore as stated earlier, the effect only works for polarized microwave light and thus isn’t visible to the naked eye. As Martin Wegener suggests, one would have to put on polarizing goggles to appreciate the cloaking.
Andrea Alu, the University of Texas professor who worked on the project and co-author of a paper published in the Institute of Physics and German Physical Society's New Journal of Physics, believes that there are some real-world applications where such a cloak could be useful. Biomedical and optical near-field measurements could be greatly improved and in the future, aircraft could be coated with the material to appear invisible to all forms of radar in any direction.
User Comments: 16
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Sounds good
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cloaking that really isn't cloaking?
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It's invisible cloaking! XD
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lchu12 said:
Awesome.
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fimbles said:
Quote "one would have to put on polarizing goggles to appreciate the cloaking"
Why not just wear a blindfold and everything becomes invisible?
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Darth Shiv said:
Guest said:cloaking that really isn't cloaking?
Being invisible to radar isn't exactly useless
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awesome, now I can appear invisible to my perverted microwave that follows me everywhere.
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We are one step closer to invisible police
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Who said that?
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I would add an LED to let us know when it is cloaked... or rather when it is not cloaked... but it would be a cloaked LED so you wouldn't be able to... never mind..
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So it looks like cloaking at this point is really just
a farce made up by some reporter trying to make
a name for themselves. What you have descibed is
an overblown expensive parlor trick. Not impressed
at all! Get back to us when you've got something, not
theoretical mumbo jumbo.
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tengeta said:
ok soldiers! as long as we trick them into wearing the special glasses you will remain invisible!
just like a 3d tv, a complete lie.
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"Who said that? "
I did. Tell me, if it were possible for police to be invisible, why wouldn't they?
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Guest said:
Who said that?
Now thats funny! LOL!
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Remember, the "Laser" was first pioneered as a "Maser"--the effect was first demonstrated in the microwave spectrum. So stay tuned, folks.
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Still useless. We need to hide metallic objects from RADAR. This doesn't do that, but the paint the military buys does do that. Redneck Rocket Science also did an episode where they used powdered charcoal to stealth their pickup from police RADAR. It worked.
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