Article : Research On Invisible And Its Possibility

Invisibility is the state of an object that cannot be seen. An object in this state is said to be invisible (literally, "not visible"). The term is often used in fantasy/science fiction, where objects are literally made unseeable by magical or technological means; however, its effects can also be demonstrated in the real world, particularly in physics and perceptual psychology classes.

Since objects can be seen by light in the visible spectrum from a source reflecting off their surfaces and hitting the viewer's eye, the most natural form of invisibility (whether real or fictional) is an object that neither reflects nor absorbs light (that is, it allows light to pass through it). This is known as transparency, and is seen in many naturally occurring materials (although no naturally occurring material is 100% transparent).

Invisibility perception depends on several optical and visual factors.[1] For example, invisibility depends on the eyes of the observer and/or the instruments used. Thus an object can be classified as "invisible to" a person, animal, instrument, etc. In research on sensorial perception it has been shown that invisibility is perceived in cycles.[2]

Invisibility is often considered to be the supreme form of camouflage, as it does not reveal to the viewer any kind of vital signs, visual effects, or any frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum detectable to the human eye, instead making use of radio, infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths.

In illusion optics, invisibility is a special case of illusion effects: the illusion of free space.



Now, a team of researchers at the University of Central Florida, led by Debashis Chanda, have perfected a nanotransfer printing technique that makes it possible to create larger swaths of the metamaterial—about four by four inch squares. From there, multiple pieces can be stitched together with an automated tool to create a very large area of coverage, Chanda explained in an email.

It means the technology could finally have real-life, practical applications, he said. “Such large-area fabrication of metamaterials following a simple printing technique will enable realization of novel devices based on engineered optical responses at the nanoscale."

The research was published as the cover story in the March edition of the journal Advanced Optical Materials. For the optics/nanotech gurus among you, the technical details:

The nanotransfer printing technique creates metal/dielectric composite films, which are stacked together in a 3-D architecture with nanoscale patterns for operation in the visible spectral range. Control of electromagnetic resonances over the 3-D space by structural manipulation allows precise control over propagation of light. Following this technique, larger pieces of this special material can be created, which were previously limited to micron-scale size.

However, this doesn’t mean we can run out and start nanoprinting and stitching together huge cloaks to outfit the world’s first invisible army. Naturally, there's still a catch. Currently the process only bends light in the red and blue spectrum, not the full light spectrum, so it's not quite “invisibility." But Chanda believes that in a few years, the technology could lead to real-world applications in stealth tech, sensors, and camouflage—like exploring various infrared detectors, and hiding fighter jets from the enemy.

The research was funded by the Office of Naval Research, and now Chanda and co are pitching other organizations to fund further study, including the aerospace defense company Lockheed Martin. Meanwhile, in its race to develop cloaking technology on a par with the US military, China is bankrolling no less than 40 different invisibility cloaks currently in R&D.

Does it mean we should expect a real-world Harry Potter vanishing act? To the disappointment of kids everywhere up to no good, that won't be making the list anytime soon. Ă˘â‚¬Ĺ“Not in the near future!” Chanda said.


several theories have emerged over the mysterious disappearance of the Malaysian airlines flight MH370, one of the most intriguing that is doing rounds is that the airplane could have been made invisible by use of cutting edge technology. As bizarre as it might sound, researchers across the world have achieved reasonable amount of success in this cloaking technology.

In June 2013, a team of researchers headed by Professor Chen Hongsheng from Zhejiang University in China demonstrated a hexagonal device that made a fish and a cat invisible by bending light around the animals creating what is arguably the first invisible cloak in the world.  

According to a report published in the Scientific American, meta materials can create prefect cloaking in principle which makes the cloak as well as its contents invisible. While several countries including the United States have been working on this technology, the Chinese seem to have gone furthest in making objects invisible using cheaper technology.

Another technology that is used to cloak objects is nanotube paint. According to a report by MIT Technology Review in December 2011, a nano-structured coating could be used to make paints for stealth aircraft that can’t be seen at night and that are undetectable by radar at any time of day.

The coating made of carbon nanotubes can be used to cloak an object in utter darkness, making it indistinguishable from the night sky. Invisibility cloaks shield objects by manipulating incident light so that it simply flows around them.

Not just research organizations but even private firms engaged in defence technology such as BAE Systems which specializes in advanced defence and aeorospace systems, is working on making aircrafts invisible and claims to put it to commercial use soon. The unique camouflage system called Adaptiv could help turn a helicopter into a cloud or a warship into a wave. According to the firm’s website, the high tech camouflage system uses modules, which look like cells in a honeycomb to cover the flanks of an armoured vehicle.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle newspaper, Dr. B.S. Murty, Professor at the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at IIT Madras says that while it was technically possible to make little objects invisible, it is highly unlikely that a huge airplane could be completely made invisible using nano or any other technology available at present.

“If hiding the plane from being detected by satellites and other communication devices is the objective, then it could be simply achieved by constructing an underground hangar and setting up jamming devices to prevent transmission of signals,” he says.