29 September 2014

A Harry Potter-Inspired ‘Invisibility Cloak’ Made With Normal Lenses

[Click here to view the video in this article]







Scientists from the University of Rochester have created a ‘cloaking device’ that was inspired from Harry Potter’s iconic invisibility cloak.



Unlike Harry Potter’s cloak, the scientists used a combination of four standard lenses for their device called ‘Rochester Cloak’.



The device works by bending light around an object, making it seem as if it has been “cloaked” entirely without distorting the background.



“From what we know this is the first cloaking device that provides three-dimensional, continuously multidirectional cloaking. I imagine this could be used to cloak a trailer on the back of a semi-truck so the driver can see directly behind him. It can be used for surgery, in the military, in interior design, art,” said graduate student and researcher Joseph Choi.



If you feel like making your own ‘cloaking device’, hop over to the scientists' page to view the instructions.













Image by J. Adam Fenster, University of Rochester



















[via Mashable, images via University of Rochester and YouTube]