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Quantum Cloaking Makes Molecules Invisible

Posted by kdawson on from the can-you-see-me-now dept.

KentuckyFC writes "An international team of physicists has applied the ideas of cloaking to the quantum world and worked out how to hide quantum objects such as molecules. In the quantum world, seeing is equivalent to detecting a quantum object. In the case of molecules, that means looking for the terahertz radiation they produce when they vibrate (abstract). By designing a 'quantum corral,' an elliptical nanostructures that absorbs terahertz waves at a precise frequency, the team says it is possible to hide molecules that emit at exactly that frequency. They say their quantum corral would be ideally suited to detecting molecules of specific species while ignoring others. And that may mean a new generation of molecular detectors on the horizon."

6 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. Ears.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    By designing a 'quantum corral,' an elliptical nanostructures that absorbs terahertz waves at a precise frequency

    Sounds sort of like how the human ear works.

    1. Re:Ears.. by Kugrian · · Score: 5, Funny

      The real First Post is invisible.

  2. Lord have mercy! by moniker127 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Last week they announced the first laser cannon, now we're working on the base technology for tricorders? Maybe startrek IS an accurate timeline.

    1. Re:Lord have mercy! by girlintraining · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, the Eugenics Wars were supposed to have happened by now, also referred to as the "third world war". Also, we should have launched few more probes by now -- Voyager, which will later gain sentience and attempt to kill everything that isn't perfect, and Nomad, which later returns to blow the hell out the planet because we killed off the whales. Lastly, we've only got four years left to build a self-enclosed and self-sustaining ecosystem in Portage Creek, Indiana.

      P.S. You've been geeked. ^_^

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    2. Re:Lord have mercy! by girlintraining · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Two things sugar. First, I am a "chick", and I've been able to get them for awhile. Second, as you said, Spock referred to the Eugenics Wars in Space Seed as "the last of your so-called world wars" -- so what you're going on about is an minor plot inconsistency. zomfg! An inconsistency in Star Trek canon? Like THAT's never happened before. So about my geek card? No, not yours. And just so we're clear... Yes, there are fangirls for TOS. We're all gay though so don't get your hopes up little boy. ;) We're also responsible for most of the spock/mccoy slashfic out there.

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  3. Re:Not quite a cloaking device by nacturation · · Score: 5, Funny

    In practice, this means designing quantum corals, elliptical nanostructures, that absorb terahertz waves of specific frequencies. [...] Such a quantum coral...

    If you had enough quantum corals, could you build a quantum reef?

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