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Mathematicians Design Invisible Tunnel

Posted by kdawson on from the worms-need-light-too dept.

New calculations show how to make an electromagnetic "wormhole" — a tube that is invisible from the sides but allows light to shine down the center. The practical applications are a ways off, as even the design of a spherical invisibility cloak has not advanced beyond working (in theory) for a single wavelength of visible light.

20 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. invisible from all sides by seven+of+five · · Score: 4, Funny

    anyway, it seems to work on the website.

  2. But what is it good for? by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not to be a party pooper, but is there really any application for this tunnel? You can't see it, you can't see out of it, and you need to build it so it can only go to places you can already go.

    In NJ we already have tunnels that seem to do nothing. We call them the Holland Tunnel & Lincoln Tunnel.

    1. Re:But what is it good for? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      In NJ we already have tunnels that seem to do nothing. We call them the Holland Tunnel & Lincoln Tunnel.

      Q : Why are New Yorkers so depressed?
      A : Because the light at the end of the tunnel is New Jersey!

    2. Re:But what is it good for? by totoanihilation · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The one application that struck me is the holographic implications. If you can get light to move to a precise spot in mid-air through an invisible tunnel, you can make objects appear anywhere. No smoke or mirrors required.

    3. Re:But what is it good for? by Strilanc · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's essentially an invisible wire. Just think of the possibilities! Invisible tripwire, an INVISIBLE clutter of wires behind your desk, and freaky rope bondage! ... maybe we should reconsider building this.

    4. Re:But what is it good for? by suv4x4 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The one application that struck me is the holographic implications. If you can get light to move to a precise spot in mid-air through an invisible tunnel, you can make objects appear anywhere. No smoke or mirrors required.

      A laser beam is already invisible since it travels in a given direction. There's no light-saber beam line, like in the movies (as you probably know).

      The problem with holograms is, how do you scatter that beam at any given point (thus the smoke or vapour or whatever), so it becomes a visible light point. And thus, thus technology doesn't help holograms at all.

      Plus to create a workable resolution images (say 800 voxels = 800^3) that's 512 million tunnels, recreated/readjusted from 20 to 60 times a second. Or one really fast moving tunnel covering around 10 billion locations per second.

      Since the solution involves metal rings building the tunnel.. how the heck do you imagine this in a hologram in midair ;)?

  3. spelling? by skeldoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    "advenced"? "are a ways of"? That futuristic language must be from the other side of the wormhole!

  4. This thread is useless without pictures by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If anyone is interested, I found a photo:

    1. Re:This thread is useless without pictures by FLAGGR · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's only invisible from the sides, not when you are looking in the hole.

  5. military by crAckZ · · Score: 4, Interesting

    this is a good application for the army. a series of tunnels and your moving trucks and cargo without the enemy seeing them. all they would know is that you have the tunnels but would'nt know exactly what your moving.

    1. Re:military by ByteSlicer · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Or they could build their tunnels out of metal-shielded concrete, and nobody would see what they are moving either (for a fraction of the price, probably).

  6. Fake! by markild · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bah.. I just checked out ThinkGeek, and [b]still[/b] no 1:12 working model of a Stargate..

    I mean, what's the use of this technology if they're not putting it to good use :P

    --
    Scully: Should we arrest David Copperfield?
    Mulder: Yes we should, but not for this.
  7. Never late for work ! by Joebert · · Score: 4, Funny

    Joebert ! you're late !
    No I'm not sir, I got an early start cleaning up inside the tube.

    --
    Wanna fight ? Bend over, stick your head up your ass, and fight for air.
  8. Math != reality by ErikZ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Math guy: "Look! We've shown how to make wormholes, with math!"

    Me: "You forgot to carry the 1."

    Math guy: "Damn!"

    --
    Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.
  9. Re:Wormhole? by noidentity · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow, I just took a flashlight and shined it straight down in front of me and I didn't see the beam in the air at all. I better see if there's one of these invisible tunnels in front of me.

    Oh, wait, that's what light already does.

  10. Obl. by PineGreen · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's the dumbest fucking idea I've heard since I've been at Microsoft.

  11. A math guy, a physics guy, and a biology guy by HungWeiLo · · Score: 5, Funny

    A biologist, a physicist, and a mathematician are sitting in an outdoor cafe. They watch two people go into a building across the street. Shortly thereafter, three people come out.

    "Hmm," says the biologist. "It looks like they reproduced."

    "Nah," says the physicist. "There was obviously error in our initial measurement."

    The mathematician looks up from his coffee. "Who cares? If another person goes in, it'll be empty."

    --
    There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
  12. And in other news.. by mrbluze · · Score: 4, Funny

    Scientists develop invisible, weightless clothing that is so thin you can't feel it. One of their first customers has been the King of England, but orders have also been placed by the President and hundreds of middle aged men hoping to impress their wives this Mother's Day.

    --
    Do it yourself, because no one else will do it yourself. [beta blockade 10-17 Feb]
  13. Link to paper by Plutonite · · Score: 4, Informative

    Because I love you all:

    http://arxiv.org/abs/math-ph/0703059

  14. Re:Wormhole? by imamac · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Yet, if I step into the middle of th beam, you'll see me. Not so with this tunnel.