Columbia Mathematics Department Colloquium
Cloaking and Transformation Optics
by
Gunther Uhlmann
University of Washington
Abstract:
We describe recent theoretical and
experimental progress on making objects invisible to detection by
electromagnetic waves, acoustic waves and quantum waves. We emphasize
the method of transformation optics. For the case of electromagnetic
waves, Maxwell's equations have transformation laws that allow for
design of electromagnetic materials that steer light around a hidden
region, returning it to its original path on the far side. Not only
would observers be unaware of the contents of the hidden region, they
would not even be aware that something was being hidden. The object,
which would have no shadow, is said to be cloaked. We recount some of
the history of the subject and discuss some of the mathematical issues
involved.