Now Shrink Kids With Metamaterials

Chinese Engineers from Southeast University, Nanjing have devised a technology which will make it possible to make objects appear smaller. The technique used by them makes it difficult for observer to make out correct size the object. The research team was headed by Mr. Wei Xiang Jiang and Mr. Tie Jun Cui. The researchers used metamaterials to make the experiment successful. Metamaterials are noted for their use in invisibility cloaks developed by Japanese scientists.

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In the experiment, researchers placed eight rings concentrically. The rings are made from metamaterials. The rings are 12 mm high and object to be reduced in size is kept at the center. When the light travels from outer ring to second innermost ring, the wavelength of light is compressed. However once it reaches innermost ring, the wavelength is suddenly decompressed. This phenomenon creates an illusion of a shrunk object.  The shape remains same as that of the original. The technology takes help of reduction in radius of the innermost circle. The same shrinking device can also be used as an invisibility cloak if the radius of curvature becomes zero. The research paper in this aspect is published in Applied Physics Letters.

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The concept is verified both experimentally as well as numerically. The results perfectly match, if not 100%. If a commercial application of this technology comes up in future, it will have wide ranging effects on human life. For example, it can be used military to deceive radar. Moreover if we can take control of the size to appear, means if we can reduce the object to a scale as per our requirements then it would have still greater impact on engineering arena.

Metamaterials hold promising applications of technology. The things which were earlier considered as mere imagination are now slowly becoming reality. Even a scientific Atheist or one who does not believe in science will see these things appearing in the real world.  Another recent application of metamaterial has it that metamaterials can now be used for efficient power transmission. It promises a clean and efficient energy transfer. The shrinking device invention has opened up new ways technology. These materials have applications not only in optics but also in electrical engineering. There are still many inventions yet to be done. Let us keep our fingers crossed for more astounding applications.

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