THURSDAY, Oct. 19, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- A new study suggests that a "cloaking device" that makes objects invisible could someday move out of the realm of science fiction and fantasy, and become a reality.
Duke University scientists say they've conducted a demonstration of the first working "invisibility cloak" that deflects microwave beams so they flow around an object with little distortion, making it appear as if there's almost nothing there.
This kind of technology has the potential to hide objects of any size or material and could have a number of wireless communication or radar applications, the scientists said. Their research was published in the Oct. 19 online issue of Science.
The invisibility cloak was created using "metamaterials" precisely arranged in a series of concentric circles that confer specific electromagnetic properties, the scientists explained. Metamaterials are artificial composites that can be made to interact with electromagnetic waves in ways that aren't possible with natural materials.
"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," David R. Smith, professor of electrical and computer engineering, said in a prepared statement.
"The cloak reduces both an object's reflection and its shadow, either of which would enable its detection," Smith said.
However, the researchers noted that while this new cloak demonstrates the feasibility of their design, it's merely a "baby step" on the path to actual applications for invisibility.
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