New U.S. technology bends light to render troops, equipment invisble
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has been developing technology
designed to surround soldiers and assets in an invisible electromagnetic cloak.
Officials said the army has been teamed with leading U.S. universities
to research the refraction of light to prevent visibility. They said such
technology was based on the use of meta, an artificial material that can
bend light.
"Meta materials are artificial materials with versatile properties that
can be tailored to fit almost any practical need," Richard Hammond, a
theoretical physicist at the U.S. Army's Research Office, said. "Similar to
general relativity, where time and space are curved, transformation optics
shows that the space for light can also be bent in an almost arbitrary way."
In an August 2008 briefing, Hammond reviewed developments in the field
of negative index materials research and meta materials. He said research
has demonstrated the ability of meta to reflect light beyond the
capabilities of natural materials.
Also In This Edition
"One of the most exciting applications is an electromagnetic cloak that
can bend light around itself, similar to the flow of water around a stone,"
Hammond said. "Making invisible both the cloak and an object hidden inside."
Meta could be used to cloak material by redirecting light around a
cylindrical shape, researchers said. They said meta could also detect
compounds such as chemical or biological weapons agents.
"If you're out on the battlefield and you see a cloud coming, or you
suspect there might be an aerosol chemical or biological warfare being used
against you, it's very difficult to quickly detect what the material is,"
Hammond said.
The U.S. Army project has included Purdue University, University of
Colorado, University of Berkley and Princeton University. Hammond said
the development of meta materials could result in the production of a lens
that would allow soldiers to identify pathogens and viruses.
