A group of researchers from the Department of Physics at UAB have designed a device, called a dc metamaterial, which makes objects invisible under certain light – very low frequency electromagnetic waves – by making the inside of the magnetic field zero but not altering the exterior field. The device, which up to date has only been studied in theoretical works, thus acts as an invisibility cloak, making the object completely undetectable to these waves.
The research is based on an initial idea of the British Ben Wood and John Pendry – the latter considered the father of metamaterials – and is a step forward in the race to create devices which could make objects invisible at visible light frequencies.
“The theoretical work provides the details for constructing a real dc metamaterial and represents another step towards invisibility,” says Àlvar Sánchez, director of the research. He goes on to state that “now comes a very important stage: building a prototype in the laboratory and applying this device to improving magnetic field detection technology”.
Making objects invisible always has been a dream of humanity, as can be seen in different works of literature, from “The Invisible Man” by H. G. Wells to Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak. Technically, any object could be made invisible if it were covered with something which could make the light surround it, instead of absorbing or reflecting it. Thus it would be impossible to see the object since the light would only pass around it and if one were to look directly at the object, one would only see what is behind it. The object would become imperceptible.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090707094822.htm
