The Science Behind an Invisibility Cloak: Q&A with the Experts

Summary

An “invisibility cloak” made of bendable plastic sheet lined with lenses has been created for military application. It does not make objects completely invisible but instead obscures them from view, making it an effective means for optical camouflage. The founder of Hyperstealth, the company that produces the material, and a physicist and specialist in quantum optics offer insights on the potential of the technology and the issues involved in producing an actual invisibility cloak.

What is the invisibility cloak and how does it work?
How is the invisibility cloak being used currently?
What is the potential for the invisibility cloak in the future?
What is the science behind the invisibility cloak?
Is it really possible to make an invisibility cloak?

What is the invisibility cloak and how does it work?

The “invisibility cloak” is not magic, but rather an off-the-shelf material made of bendable plastic sheet lined with lenses designed to obscure objects from view. While the material does not create full invisibility, it can render objects almost invisible from some angles. Light is bent left and right as one looks through it, creating a dead zone in the back. The distance at which it is most effective is determined by the thickness of the material, and the material can be affixed to a riot shield.

How is the invisibility cloak being used currently?

The invisibility cloak is being developed for tactical use by soldiers or law enforcement, with applications including hiding snipers, disguising tanks or buildings, and obscuring a soldier or team in any given environment. Designers are aiming to manipulate the material for use in clothing and parachutes.

What is the potential for the invisibility cloak in the future?

An actual cloak that makes objects completely invisible is yet to be developed, and the design of the invisibility cloak is currently limited by the distance and angle at which the material is effective. Despite this, the design is expected to continue to advance, and it has been suggested that with the right approach, full invisibility could eventually be achievable.

What is the science behind the invisibility cloak?

The invisibility cloak is actually more about cloaking than real invisibility. It functions by altering the way that light is moving around the object, diverting it from the observer’s line of sight. It operates using an array of cylindrical lenses known as a lenticular sheet. Light scattering off an object is sent to different locations through the lenses, making the object harder to see.

Is it really possible to make an invisibility cloak?

While it is possible to create “cloaking” of objects, the technology is currently limited by the challenge of collecting all rays from all directions and knowing each ray’s direction or position. Sending out information to recreate a ray is possible, but difficult in a changing environment. Engineers must know the color, position, and direction of every ray to make all rays from an object invisible.