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Material With Negative Refractive Index Created

Posted by kdawson on from the seeing-right-through-it dept.

holy_calamity writes "The race to build a material with a negative index of refraction for visible light has been won by researchers in Germany. The advance could lead to super-lenses able to see details finer then the wavelength of visible light, or the previously predicted invisibility cloak for visible light." From the article: "[The researcher] determined the refractive index of the material by measuring the 'phase velocity' of light as it passed through. His measurements show the structure has a negative refractive index of -0.6 for light with a wavelength of 780 nm [the far red end of the visible light spectrum]. This value drops to zero at 760 nm and 800 nm, and becomes positive at longer and shorter wavelengths."

14 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. This will revolutionize... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    small penis jokes at physics conventions.

  2. All right! by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nothing to see here. Move along.

    --
    My blog
  3. Re:Negative or less than one? by HotBBQ · · Score: 5, Funny

    We're always looking for ways to make light go faster than C.

    Write it in Java.

  4. Finally... by Druox · · Score: 5, Funny

    An invisibility cloak..

    For the first time, I may have a real shot at seeing real life naked boobies

    --
    ~ slashdot.org - Where some of the world's greatest minds come together to scrutinize grammar.
  5. Re:Can someone explain a refraction index? by VorpalEdge · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I check another site, I lose my excuse for bashing the poor quality of the article. That's just not an option.

  6. Re:yes, but RTFA, they were not first. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I actually achieved this a couple of years ago. But the phone rang and I set it down somewhere, and now I can't find it.

  7. Re:Negative or less than one? by elzahir · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, he said _faster_

    --
    For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled - R Feynman
  8. Re:Why do Germans seem ... by anonymous22 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's the beer.

    --
    Anyone who runs is V.C. Anyone who stands still is well-disciplined V.C.
    Door Gunner, Full Metal Jacket
  9. Transcript from Experiment by jomama717 · · Score: 4, Funny
    • Scientist 1: Has anyone seen Helmut?
    • Scientist 2: No, that's odd. I'll ask Frau Meier.
    • Scientist 2: She says the lab... it just came alive and took him.
    --
    while [ 1 ]; do echo -n -e "\xe2\x95\xb$((($RANDOM&1)+1))"; done
  10. Re:Negative or less than one? by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 4, Funny

    > Come on doofus, C is the the speed of light. How can light go faster than itself ???

    Perhaps it could go as fast as his post went over your head.

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  11. Re:yes, but RTFA, they were not first. by LearnToSpell · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can't find the phone? It's probably under your invisibility cloak. Try the pager from the base.

    --
    Haida Manga
  12. Re:Visible spectrum and cones by silentounce · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, the "far red end". Finally, I shall have my revenge. There shall be no more red. My fellow color-blind brethren rejoice. No longer will they laugh and point at us. That's not green! You idiot! Idiot? I think not. Our time is now.

    --
    There are many tongues to talk, and but few heads to think. -Victor Hugo
  13. Re:obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    you must be new here...

  14. Re:Can someone explain a refraction index? by Romberg · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought Jethro Tull invented the aqualung.