Disguise devices are now a reality

The world's first disguise device capable of hiding objects in the visible spectrum, created by scientists from the University of Maryland. True, it is too early to expect this prototype of something supernatural, since it works only in two dimensions and ensures the invisibility of very small objects (no more than 10 micrometers). Nevertheless, this step from theory to practice is a more than significant scientific discovery.


The device was created and tested by a team of physicists under the guidance of Igor Smolyaninov. As a starting point for the development were taken theoretical calculations "invisibility cloak", made and published in early 2007 by Vladimir Shalaev of Purdy University.

The Smolyaninov masking device, having a size of 10 micrometers in diameter, consists of two concentric gold circles, coated with plastic called polymethyl methacrylate (polymethyl methacrylate). Gold and plastic have different reflection properties and allow you to direct plasmons (light waves converted into waves passing through electrons) in different directions.

Combining the amount of metal and plastic in different areas of the “cloak”, the team of American physicists was able to control the plasmons with sufficient accuracy in order to direct them around the hidden object.
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In simple words, the device allows you to direct a beam of light around an object directly behind it. If you give a visual analogy that it is somehow similar to how water in a river bends around a stone.
However, even according to the statements of the scientists themselves, the device of masking obtained as a result of experiments is not capable of controlling light waves directly. Therefore, to call him really while "cloak of invisibility" can not. In addition, it works to hide objects in only two dimensions. Three-dimensional devices of this kind, capable of hiding objects in the visible spectrum, still remain fantasy.

via Engadget , Newscientist