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bum-man · 10-19-2006, 03:24 PM

A team of British and U.S. scientists has demonstrated the first working "invisibility cloak," although don’t expect it to appear in the Halloween costumes aisle just yet.

The team, led by Professor Sir John Pendry of Imperial College in London, built the prototype at Duke University in North Carolina and reported its findings Thursday in Science Express, the advance online publication of the journal Science.

Little more than 12 centimetres across, the small device can redirect microwave beams so they flow around a "hidden" object inside with little distortion, making it appear almost as if nothing were there at all.

Like light, microwaves bounce off objects, making them visible and creating a "shadow," although it has to be detected with instruments.

The new work could be a baby step to an improved version that would make the Klingons and Harry Potter jealous by hiding people and objects from visible light.

Like 'water flowing around a smooth rock'

Continue Article

In the experiment, the scientists used microwaves to try to detect a copper cylinder "hidden" by the cloak, which is made from metamaterials — or engineered mixtures of metal and circuit board materials, which could include ceramic, Teflon or fibre composite materials.

"The waves' movement is similar to river water flowing around a smooth rock,” said cloak designer David Schurig, a research associate in Duke's electrical and computer engineering department.

The test came five months after the team published a theory that such a device was possible to design.

"By incorporating complex material properties, our cloak allows a concealed volume, plus the cloak, to appear to have properties similar to free space when viewed externally," said David Smith, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke, in a release Thursday.

"The cloak reduces both an object's reflection and its shadow, either of which would enable its detection."

Wireless, radar applications

Cloaking differs from stealth technology, which doesn't make an aircraft invisible but reduces the cross-section available to radar, making it hard to track. Cloaking simply passes the radar or other waves around the object as if it weren't there.

Cloaks that render objects essentially invisible to microwaves could have a variety of wireless communications or radar applications, the researchers said.

The scientists said their cloak represents the most comprehensive approach to invisibility yet realized, with the potential to hide objects of any size or material property.

Earlier scientific approaches to achieving "invisibility" often relied on limiting the reflection of electromagnetic waves, they added.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2...ity-cloak.html

The Artist · 10-19-2006, 03:49 PM

wow this is crazy and cool..
a cloak like this in the hands of a wrong man (me) can be devestating for many (pagani automobili)...

bum-man · 10-19-2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Artist

wow this is crazy and cool..
a cloak like this in the hands of a wrong man (me) can be devestating for many (pagani automobili)...

I was expecting something like this from you.

Imhotep Evil · 10-19-2006, 04:21 PM

OMG, Science Fiction becoming Science reality.

Now I want a railgun, and my personal "beem me up Scoty".

The Artist · 10-19-2006, 04:21 PM

LOL..man you all know me to well..haha

Michael · 10-19-2006, 08:51 PM

THIS IS AWESOME! Eventually you will be able to hide your car and not get a ticket on it, or get it towed. However, there will be the problem with someone bumping into it, scracthing it or even crashing into it. Hmmmm......

Rob · 10-19-2006, 10:28 PM

Incredible ......I love this weird science stuff.

I often wonder about some of those top-secret experiments being conducted deep under ground by the military -- what we assume is science fiction is becoming science fact.

BTW, Welcome to the forum Michael

Michael · 10-20-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

BTW, Welcome to the forum Michael

Thank you sir

10-19-2006, 03:24 PM	#1
bum-man Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,456 Thanks: 4 Thanked 11 Times in 9 Posts	Scientists create 'invisibility' cloak that bends microwaves A team of British and U.S. scientists has demonstrated the first working "invisibility cloak," although don’t expect it to appear in the Halloween costumes aisle just yet. The team, led by Professor Sir John Pendry of Imperial College in London, built the prototype at Duke University in North Carolina and reported its findings Thursday in Science Express, the advance online publication of the journal Science. Little more than 12 centimetres across, the small device can redirect microwave beams so they flow around a "hidden" object inside with little distortion, making it appear almost as if nothing were there at all. Like light, microwaves bounce off objects, making them visible and creating a "shadow," although it has to be detected with instruments. The new work could be a baby step to an improved version that would make the Klingons and Harry Potter jealous by hiding people and objects from visible light. Like 'water flowing around a smooth rock' Continue Article In the experiment, the scientists used microwaves to try to detect a copper cylinder "hidden" by the cloak, which is made from metamaterials — or engineered mixtures of metal and circuit board materials, which could include ceramic, Teflon or fibre composite materials. "The waves' movement is similar to river water flowing around a smooth rock,” said cloak designer David Schurig, a research associate in Duke's electrical and computer engineering department. The test came five months after the team published a theory that such a device was possible to design. "By incorporating complex material properties, our cloak allows a concealed volume, plus the cloak, to appear to have properties similar to free space when viewed externally," said David Smith, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke, in a release Thursday. "The cloak reduces both an object's reflection and its shadow, either of which would enable its detection." Wireless, radar applications Cloaking differs from stealth technology, which doesn't make an aircraft invisible but reduces the cross-section available to radar, making it hard to track. Cloaking simply passes the radar or other waves around the object as if it weren't there. Cloaks that render objects essentially invisible to microwaves could have a variety of wireless communications or radar applications, the researchers said. The scientists said their cloak represents the most comprehensive approach to invisibility yet realized, with the potential to hide objects of any size or material property. Earlier scientific approaches to achieving "invisibility" often relied on limiting the reflection of electromagnetic waves, they added. Source: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2...ity-cloak.html

10-19-2006, 03:49 PM	#2
The Artist Shaolin Shadow Boxer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Gothenburg Posts: 9,171 Thanks: 41 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Re: Scientists create 'invisibility' cloak that bends microwaves wow this is crazy and cool.. a cloak like this in the hands of a wrong man (me) can be devestating for many (pagani automobili)...

10-19-2006, 04:21 PM	#4
Imhotep Evil Devotee Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,327 Thanks: 25 Thanked 21 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Scientists create 'invisibility' cloak that bends microwaves OMG, Science Fiction becoming Science reality. Now I want a railgun, and my personal "beem me up Scoty".

10-19-2006, 04:21 PM	#5
The Artist Shaolin Shadow Boxer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Gothenburg Posts: 9,171 Thanks: 41 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Re: Scientists create 'invisibility' cloak that bends microwaves LOL..man you all know me to well..haha

10-19-2006, 08:51 PM	#6
Michael Fanatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 2,150 Thanks: 109 Thanked 184 Times in 106 Posts	Re: Scientists create 'invisibility' cloak that bends microwaves THIS IS AWESOME! Eventually you will be able to hide your car and not get a ticket on it, or get it towed. However, there will be the problem with someone bumping into it, scracthing it or even crashing into it. Hmmmm......

10-19-2006, 10:28 PM	#7
Rob Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,618 Thanks: 892 Thanked 719 Times in 401 Posts	Re: Scientists create 'invisibility' cloak that bends microwaves Incredible ......I love this weird science stuff. I often wonder about some of those top-secret experiments being conducted deep under ground by the military -- what we assume is science fiction is becoming science fact. BTW, Welcome to the forum Michael Last edited by Rob; 10-24-2006 at 01:46 AM.

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Scientists create 'invisibility' cloak that bends microwaves