Is there really invisibility cloaks?

Answer 1

From Scientific American, November 12th, 2006

[quote]
Like plasmonics, the related science of metamaterials-the creation of artificial atoms with optical properties unlike those of any natural atom-is a door into a world so fantastic that it must surely be imaginary, and yet isn't. This spring, metamaterials pioneer John B. Pendry of Imperial College, London, along with David Schurig and David Smith of Duke University, and, independently, Ulf Leonhardt of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland showed that a shell of metamaterials can redirect light around an object and render it invisible-not just very dark (as in current stealth technology) but truly invisible. Although such a cloaking device has obvious military applications, the researchers intended it more as an example of what metamaterials can do.[/quote]

That's one way to do things, redirect light around an object. Another possibility is to camoflague yourself so well into the background so well that for all intents and purposes you are invisible. The military has also been working in this direction using smart fiber optic materials that can receive information from their enviroment and change coloration appropiately. If the image was made accurate enough, you should become all but invisible without having to bend light.

Of course these are still things that are in the stage of development. Right now nobody has a working invisibility cloak, but it's only a matter of time until one is successfully developed.

Answer 2

you're a fan of Harry Potter, then you're quite familiar with the concept of an invisibility cloak. In his first year at Hogwarts Academy, Harry receives an invisibility cloak that used to belong to his father. As its name suggests, the invisibility cloak renders Harry invisible when he slips beneath the shining, silvery cloth.

This seems perfectly believable when you're reading about a fictional world filled with witches, wizards and centuries-old magic; but in the real world, such a garment would be impossible, right? Not so fast. With optical-camouflage technology developed by scientists at the University of Tokyo, the invisibility cloak is already a reality.

Optical camouflage delivers a similar experience to Harry Potter's invisibility cloak, but using it requires a slightly more complicated arrangement. First, the person who wants to be invisible (let's call her Person A) dons a garment that resembles a hooded raincoat. The garment is made of a special material that we'll examine more closely in a moment. Next, an observer (Person B) stands before Person A at a specific location. At that location, instead of seeing Person A wearing a hooded raincoat, Person B sees right through the cloak, making Person A appear to be invisible. The photograph on the right below shows you what Person B would see. If Person B were viewing from a slightly different location, he would simply see Person A wearing a silver garment (left photograph below).

Still, despite its limitations, this is a cool piece of technology. Not only that, but it's also a technology that's been around for a while.

Answer 3

Since for any object to become invisible, light has to be bent around an object (as opposed to deflecting off it, which is how we see something), an invisibility cloak is impractical due to 1) the power output it would take to render something we can see beyond our range of vision and 2) its inability to block the input to other senses (e.g. we could hear someone's footsteps and see rain pour off someone invisible). Research is currently being done in Japan on a cloak that could more accurately be termed a camouflage cloak -- what my above friend might be referring to -- because it projects an image of its immediate environment around the user onto him or her. So against a wall, the "cloak" would look like the wall.

Answer 4

Could be. The trick is to make matter somehow channel light rays rather than obstruct or spectrum identify them. If they do exist they probably use physics that borrows from nutrinos. They go right through the earth. Something, I think, to do with Radon. Similar properties. Also, if they do exist, no one is going to tell us till it becomes fairly obvious it's in use. Like matter transfer. Lastly, its a technology, like all technology, that can both be detected and defeated.

Answer 5

no but they actually have the technology to make things appear invisible now. It involves microwaves. I suggest searching on yahoo typing in invisibility and microwave in the same search bar.

Answer 6

Of course, as there are leprechauns, minotaurs, zombies gremlins and weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Didn´t you know that already?? Silly girl. Regards, Gabriel.

Answer 7

my klingon bird of prey has a cloaking device

Answer 8

yes, but it still has its weakness. soon, its going to be a reality. i wonder why japanese are so eager to develop this technology. tsk tsk. hehehe. here's the link.

Answer 9

Well ther are force field that are. Are any of them shape like a cloak. I am not sure.....................................

Answer 10

yes