New Cloaking Device Uses A Mirage To Become Invisible (video)

A new device using carbon nanotubes has been created by researchers at the University of Dallas which creates its own mirage to become invisible. A mirage effect is normally associated with hot climates where heat creates the optical mirage phenomenon by bending light rays on long roads in the heat of the sun, as pictured below.

Watch a video after the jump to see the carbon nanotubes create the artificial mirage to conceal themselves.

Mirage effect from thermally modulated transparent carbon nanotube sheets explained in a little more detail:

“The single-beam mirage effect, also known as photothermal deflection, is studied using a free-standing, highly aligned carbon nanotube aerogel sheet as the heat source. The extremely low thermal capacitance and high heat transfer ability of these transparent forest-drawn carbon nanotube sheets enables high frequency modulation of sheet temperature over an enormous temperature range, thereby providing a sharp, rapidly changing gradient of refractive index in the surrounding liquid or gas. “

More information is available from the iopScience website. But the new technology is still currently under development at the moment so don’t expect to see any invisibility cloaks appearing in stores any time soon.

Source: TG Daily : iopScience  : Flickr Image Credit: Edgehill