Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
10:35
Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials
Published on: September 26, 2014
Metamaterial electromagnetic cloak at microwave frequencies
D Schurig1, J J Mock, B J Justice
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Box 90291, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 21, 2006
Summary
Researchers demonstrate the first practical invisibility cloak using metamaterials. This device hides a copper cylinder at microwave frequencies by reducing scattering and shadow, making it resemble empty space.
Area of Science:
- Electromagnetism
- Materials Science
- Optical Engineering
Background:
- Theoretical concepts for invisibility cloaks have emerged.
- Practical realization of such cloaks remained a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the first practical invisibility cloak.
- To validate theoretical predictions of cloaking devices.
Main Methods:
- Constructed a cloak using artificially structured metamaterials.
- Designed the cloak for operation within a specific microwave frequency band.
- Tested the cloak by hiding a copper cylinder.
Main Results:
- Successfully reduced scattering from the hidden copper cylinder.
- Significantly decreased the shadow cast by the object.
- The cloaked object and cloak together mimicked empty space.
Conclusions:
- The practical realization of an invisibility cloak is achievable.
- Metamaterials are key components for developing cloaking technologies.
- This work opens avenues for further research in transformation optics and electromagnetic cloaking.
