Texas scientists have developed an invisibility cloak. It is made of a flexible, super-thin fabric, so called “metascreen”, which is a mesh of ultra-fine polycarbonate and copper.
“This is the first time an ultra-thin cloak has been realized, much thinner than the wavelength,” Andrea Alu, a researcher at the University of Texas, said. “The approach is unique.”
A similar innovation was already presented to the world in 2006, however the latest contraption is the fruit of a new approach and it is definitely not so bulky.
Objects covered by the first invisibility cloak models were concealed being flown around by the incoming waves. As for the latest cloak, it renders objects invisible through dispersion and neutralization of microwaves.
Researchers made an experiment with a 18-centimeter-long ceramic cylinder. They wrapped it in the “metascreen”, and it became invisible to microwaves. The waves passing through the object caused the effect of absence. To put in another way, the cylinder was made transparent.
The invisible cloak can only be applied to hide small objects so far.
