Silicon photonic crystals key to optical cloaking

June 25, 2008

In computer simulations, the researchers have demonstrated an approximate cloaking effect created by concentric rings of silicon photonic crystals. The mathematical proof brings scientists a step closer to a practical solution for optical cloaking.

"This is much more than a theoretical exercise," said Harley Johnson, a Cannon Faculty Scholar and professor of mechanical science and engineering at Illinois. "An optical cloaking device is almost within reach."

In October 2006, an invisibility cloak operating in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum was reported by researchers at Duke University, Imperial College in London, and Sensor Metrix in San Diego. In their experimental demonstration, microwave cloaking was achieved through a thin coating containing an array of tiny metallic structures called ring resonators.

To perform the same feat at much smaller wavelengths in the visible portion of the spectrum, however, would require ring resonators smaller than can be made with current technology, Johnson said. In addition, because metallic particles would absorb some of the incident light, the cloaking effect would be incomplete. Faintly outlined in the shape of the container, some of the background objects would appear dimmer than the rest.

To avoid these problems, postdoctoral research associate Dong Xiao came up with the idea of using a coating of concentric rings of silicon photonic crystals. The width and spacing of the rings can be tailored for specific wavelengths of light.

"When light of the correct wavelength strikes the coating, the light bends around the container and continues on its way, like water flowing around a rock," Xiao said. "An observer sees what is behind the container, as though it isn't there. Both the container and its contents are invisible."

Currently simulated in two dimensions, the cloaking concept could be extended to three dimensions, Xiao said, by replacing the concentric rings with spherical shells of silicon, separated by air or some other dielectric.

The researchers' optical cloaking technique is not perfect, however. "The wave fronts are slightly perturbed as they pass around the container," said Johnson, who also is affiliated with the university's Beckman Institute and the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory. "Because the wave fronts don't match exactly, we refer to the technique as 'approximate' cloaking."

Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

4.5 /5 (43 votes)  

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Mayday
Jun 25, 2008

Rank: 2.5 / 5 (6)
Great Halloween costume!
Falcon
Jun 25, 2008

Rank: 2.5 / 5 (8)
Watch its going to look like the cloak on Halo 2
of if they are realy lucky it will look like Halo:Combat Evolved
Mercury_01
Jun 25, 2008

Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
Wtf? are they for real? lets get on it!
jdmdaily
Jun 25, 2008

Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
Yes they are for real I've been following this for a while, they started out using other forms of meta materials like copper which blocked a certain wavelength of microwaves and then moved on to this. Look up the Nano-suit...and think Halo for real.
dbren
Jun 25, 2008

Rank: 3 / 5 (4)
If we develop cloaking before the Klingons, the Star Trek writers are going to have to do some serious backpedaling.
thales
Jun 25, 2008

Rank: 3.5 / 5 (4)
Ha ha - that's the problem with long-running sci-fi franchises: the future catches up to them!

Now if we can just make a lightsaber...
out7x
Jun 26, 2008

Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
approximate cloaking for microwave frequencies. Still a long way to go.
Mercury_01
Jun 26, 2008

Rank: 3 / 5 (1)
Well, if there are any ill- tempered, nearsighted aliens that see in the microwave spectrum, then were covered. They did say, though, that the frequency range can be adjusted.
Rank 4.5 /5 (43 votes)
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