Category: News and Views
I found this while perusing the net today. Check it out.
AP
Scientists ponder invisibility cloak
By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer Thu May 25, 2:09 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Imagine an invisibility cloak that works just like the one
Harry Potter
inherited from his father.
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Researchers in England and the United States think they know how to do that. They are laying out the blueprint and calling for help in developing the exotic
materials needed to build a cloak.
The keys are special manmade materials, unlike any in nature or the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. These materials are intended to steer light
and other forms of electromagnetic radiation around an object, rendering it as invisible as something tucked into a hole in space.
"Is it science fiction? Well, it's theory and that already is not science fiction. It's theoretically possible to do all these Harry Potter things, but
what's standing in the way is our engineering capabilities," said John Pendry, a physicist at the Imperial College London.
Details of the study, which Pendry co-wrote, appear in Thursday's online edition of the journal Science.
Scientists not involved in the work said it presents a solid case for making invisibility an attainable goal.
"This is very interesting science and a very interesting idea and it is supported on a great mathematical and physical basis," said Nader Engheta, a professor
of electrical and systems engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Engheta has done his own work on invisibility using novel materials called metamaterials.
Pendry and his co-authors also propose using metamaterials because they can be tuned to bend electromagnetic radiation — radio waves and visible light,
for example — in any direction.
A cloak made of those materials, with a structure designed down to the submicroscopic scale, would neither reflect light nor cast a shadow.
Instead, like a river streaming around a smooth boulder, light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation would strike the cloak and simply flow around
it, continuing on as if it never bumped up against an obstacle. That would give an onlooker the apparent ability to peer right through the cloak, with
everything tucked inside concealed from view.
"Yes, you could actually make someone invisible as long as someone wears a cloak made of this material," said Patanjali Parimi, a Northeastern University
physicist and design engineer at Chelton Microwave Corp. in Bolton, Mass. Parimi was not involved in the research.
Such a cloak does not exist, but early versions that could mask microwaves and other forms of electromagnetic radiation could be as close as 18 months away,
Pendry said. He said the study was "an invitation to come and play with these new ideas."
"We will have a cloak after not too long," he said.
The
Pentagon'
s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency supported the research, given the obvious military applications of such stealthy technology.
While Harry Potter could wear his cloak to skulk around Hogwarts, a real-world version probably would not be something just to be thrown on, Pendry said.
"To be realistic, it's going to be fairly thick. Cloak is a misnomer. 'Shield' might be more appropriate," he said.
Imagine trying to find your invisibility cloak...smile There is only 1 problem with that stealth technology the Stealth bomber an expensive cock up, is not completely invisible to radar, due to a fault with the shield. So I can't see this ever being perfected still I suppose it keeps them amused.
sounds like a lot of hype.
When I was a kid I used to watch all the old horror movies, and one of the ones that scared me the most was the invisible man, till one day my dad asked me why, "hell," he said, "everyone's already invisible to you." and he was right, so it didn't bother me any more.
that's facinating
Cool.
Brilliant! I could do with making myself invisible at home sometimes, get away from my bloody annoying single mum.
Wow! hehehe That article was very interesting! I want one! lol
Well if something like this were to be created, I don't think that it would be for the general public. Besides, they said that it really wouldn't be a cloak, the material would be too heavy. But if it were created, I'm sure people would use it for breaking the law. It's frightening to think of the crimes that could be committed by someone who appears invisible. <shutter>
True, mysticrain. The thought of increased crime did cross my mind while reading it but I'd just want one for the fun of it. lol There is no alterior motive in my mind than just fun and games. hehehehe But it is scary when you think about it.
oh I know right? It'd be totally fun to have. Just for the record, I wasn't thinking of crimes I could commit. lol
I heard this story somewhere else, and it sounded fascinating. If it is possible, the members of the military would probably be the first people to get one. The crime rate could go up. kind of scary