Scientists see a future for invisibility devices

The Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, May 30, 2006 | Guy Gugliotta

[presidio9]

Harry Potter and his pals Ron and Hermione have been scooting undetected around Hogwarts for years beneath the invisibility cloak that Harry got from his murdered father, but now an international team of theoretical physicists suggests that muggles, or nonwizards, might someday make a cloak of their own.

Reporting last week in the journal Science, physicists J.B. Pendry of Imperial College London and David Smith and David Schurig of Duke University described a way to make high-tech "metamaterials" that can funnel light around an object and make it invisible.

Metamaterials, assemblages of small artificial bits of patterned metal films, can be engineered to bend almost any kind of electromagnetic energy. Schurig said that "probably this year" scientists will produce a metamaterial that can shield equipment from microwave radiation. However, protecting objects from visible light — creating an invisibility cloak — is "further out," he said in a telephone interview — "maybe 10 years."

Smith compared the process to a stream flowing around a stone — essentially creating a "hole" in the water, where anything can be hidden and remain unnoticed from the outside. "We have shown it can be done for almost any frequency," he said in a telephone interview. "Being able to build it is another story."

Schurig said the first invisibility devices would probably be rigid "shells" rather than supple cloaks, "but, in principle, cloaks would be possible."

Harry and his friends will still have the advantage, though, because while metamaterials would make you invisible, they would also isolate you from the outside world. You wouldn't be able to spy on anyone. Like a Romulan Bird of Prey (at least until "Star Trek: Nemesis"),

[atomicpossum]

I invented an invisibility machine. But I can't remember where I left it...

[Red Badger]

I invented a Time Machine and the first time I turned it on It disappeared!.........Let me know if you find yours, Mine may be nearby........

[Fighting Irish]

I made one of those cloaks. Gave it to my girlfriend to wear when my wife was home ...... now all three are missing.

[CougarGA7]

Bah. I've had an invisibility device for years. Here's my driver's licence photo.

[Melinda]

Just what we need, a new terrorist weapon.

[presidio9]

Do I have to be the one to say it?

[Fighting Irish]

Just what we need, a new terrorist weapon.

Not to worry...it will never be fully effect for a rag head. They smell like camel droppings.

[WKUHilltopper]

I predict Bill Clinton uses one in a girl's locker room...

[snowrip]

Grrrrreat... How long until we let the Chinese steal it?

[presidio9]

The Chinese won't need to steal anything if the junior Senator from NY wins the presidency. Her husband will give it to them.

[kinoxi]

this method is sketchy but the concept will happen

[theDentist]

I bought MY invisibility device sight unseen.

[CougarGA7]

LOL. Now that's funny right there.

[Gondring]

See also:

Invisibility cloaks are in sight
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1639269/posts
Invisibility cloak 'five years away'
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1638485/posts
Scientists Ponder Invisibility Cloak
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1638439/posts

[robertpaulsen]

"Scientists see a future for invisibility devices"

Ya think?

[HHFi]

After 15 posts, I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one who noticed what a "Duh" headline that was.

[MarkeyD]

Why has this been talked about so much over the last few months? It was even brought up today.