Invisibility Cloak May Be Available in 2 Years
Scientists and Harry Potter fans are one step closer to having an invisibility cloak. For those not familiar with Harry Potter, an invisibility cloak can be worn in order to completely disappear yet still remain fully present.
Scientists have successfully created a "thermal cloak" which hides objects from heat detection. A report in Optics Express states that scientists have been at work creating "cloaks" to shield objects from magnetic, sound, and seismic waves, but until now, they have not managed to escape thermal recognition.
The problem with heat is that it "isn't a wave- it simply diffuses from hot to cold regions," says Sebastian Guenneau of the Institute Fresnel in France. "The mathematics and physics at play are much different. For instance, a wave can travel long distances with little attenuation, whereas temperature usually diffuses over smaller distances," he told the BBC.
Escaping heat detection would open up many doors of opportunity, not solely for researchers, but for those in the military or those who need to remain undercover. This latest cloak is powerful enough to cover a tank and keep it hidden.
"We can design a cloak so that heat diffuses around an invisibility region, which is then protected from heat," Guenneau explained.
Currently the military is able to use infrared technology to locate enemies and help track movement. Putting up an invisible shield would allow complete freedom and the upper hand to whoever has the cloak. Adaptiv technology, developed by BAE Systems, has already used this technology as a test-run on military tanks.
They are hoping that a cloak will be available to institutions soon.
"Earlier attempts at similar cloaking devices have hit problems because of cost, excessive power requirements or because they were insufficiently robust," Adaptiv project manager Pader Sjoulund said in a statement.
