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Mr. Clintberg's Studyphysics

A place for Mr.C's students to come and discuss topics in physics.
 
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 'Cloaking' idea traps a rainbow

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Belinda Ongaro




Number of posts : 32
Registration date : 2012-02-02

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PostSubject: 'Cloaking' idea traps a rainbow   'Cloaking' idea traps a rainbow Icon_minitimeTue May 29, 2012 9:11 am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18181201
Despite the completely absurd sounding title, scientist did in fact discover a method that would allow them to "trap a rainbow". This investigation came about as a result of research into cloaking techniques, or in other words, finding a way to produce an invisibility cloak up to Harry Potter's standards. In order to produce the appearance of invisibility, light must either be guided around an object or cancelled by the material. As stated by the article, the intensive study of light principles has applications that go far beyond invisibility. Researchers claim that by arranging several tiny cloaks in a grid pattern they may develop a technology with functionality in bio-medicine, sensing, and traditional camouflage. So far, the design has not been perfected, but one accomplishment mentioned above was the feat of capturing a rainbow. As interesting as the process is, its not quite as enthralling as the notion of men in lab coats chasing after rainbows, but none the less the technological process goes as such; a micro-lens array only 50 millionths of a metre across is coated with gold and placed on a gold coated sheet of glass. When light was shone through the side it produced a cloaked region in the center of each lens, and slowed the light down as well. The light, in an effect akin to that of a prism, is scattered into its constituent colors producing the "rainbow". From this experiment, scientists have drawn encouragement and they are excited to see how broad the technology can extend across all fields.
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Suzanne Sawatski




Number of posts : 31
Registration date : 2012-02-10

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PostSubject: Re: 'Cloaking' idea traps a rainbow   'Cloaking' idea traps a rainbow Icon_minitimeTue May 29, 2012 5:46 pm

As we continue to learn more about the world we live in, and the properties of things such as light, we are able to acheive stuff like this. The possibility of one day having an invisibility cloak is mind blowing and trapping a rainbow was the first step. As mentioned in the article, and by Belinda, there are many practical applications for this technology (arranging several tiny cloaks in a gird) like bio-medicint, sensing, and camouflage. It makes me wonder what else it can be used for, and im sure as research continues, new uses will be unravelled.
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