Is Invisibility

Possible?
Ang GAO Ecole des mines de Saint-Etienne

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 Outline

 How does it work in science fiction?

 Is it possible in science?
 What is light?
 How does light interact with objects?
 Can we bend light?
 Realization1 : metamaterials
 Realization2 :transformation optics
 Applications
 Conclusion

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How does it work in science fiction?

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Is it possible in science?

Yes, it is possible!
David Smith
Duke University
Professor of electrical
and computer engineering

“A true invisibility cloak IS possible within the laws

of physics.”

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What is Light?

An electromagnetic wave, made up of different wavelengths.

380~780nm visible light

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How does light interact with objects?

Absorption

Reflection

Transmission

Invisibility
Invisibility refers
refers to
to an
an object
object which
which neither
neither reflects
reflects nor
nor
absorbs
absorbs light.
light.
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Can we bend light?

Yes -
Refraction!

Refraction
Refraction law
law :: nn11sinθ
sinθ11=n
=n22sinθ
sinθ22
n:n:refractive
refractiveindex
index n>0
n>0

If
Ifn1>n2,
n1>n2,then
thenθ1<θ2;
θ1<θ2;If
Ifn1<n2,
n1<n2,then
thenθ1>θ2;
θ1>θ2; But
Butthat
thatwill
willnot
notchange
changethe
thedirection
directionof
ofray.
ray.

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Can we bend light as we want?

The cloaked zone is invisible! 8

 Archievement 1: metamaterials

Metamaterials have properties of NEGATIVE refractive index.

Metamaterials contain tiny implants which can control the refractive
index at every point in a material.
This would enable light to bend in a path around an object

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Archievement 2: transformation
optics

• Fourier Transformation
• To change the coordinate system out of Cartesian

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Archievement 2: transformation
optics

An experience in optical invisibility

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Applications

 Cloaking military devices

Invisible soldiers, airplanes, tanks....

 Diagnosing Disease

Improving medical imaging by cloaking internal organs and tissue

 Computing faster

photonic computer chips replace of electronic computer chips

 Harvesting Energy

A system using negative materials that will harvest light on the

scale of a wavelength
 Magic, art, fashion show

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Conclusion


Is invisibility possible? ----> Yes!

Is invisibility simple to accomplish? ---> No!
However, we have already realised the 2D invisibility, we created the


special material---> metamaterial which has a lot of

applications.

 Technology can change the world

We are on the way to the 3D
invisibility...

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
ANY QUESTIONS?

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