"Factoids," "Kirt's Cogitations," and
"Tech Topics Smorgasbord"
are all manifestations of my ranting on various subjects relevant (usually) to the
overall RF Cafe theme. All may be accessed on these pages:
Fractals have been a mathematical curiosity
since first being popularized by
Benoit Mandelbrot(who coined the term) in the 1960s. Perhaps, and in
retrospect no coincidence, was the popularity of the cloaking concept featured in
the 1960s phenomenon called Star Trek. I say coincidence because who would have guessed that
some of the leading research in invisibility cloaking would involve barriers derived
from fractal forms? Have aliens been guiding the technology? If so, maybe they're
working at Fractal Antenna Systems, because in mid December the company issued a
press release
detailing work being done on a cloaking system that works in the microwave band
(as opposed to visible light) - chosen for convenience
of size. Results are quite impressive as can be seen in the videos.
I am not totally convinced that fractals are a necessary part of cloaking, but
they do make for interesting publicity photos. After all, if fractals are part of
the cloaking equation, then wouldn't fractal-shapes in nature like coastlines and
foliage help make them invisible to something noticeable - sound, light, and/or
water waves? The magic is probably in the increased projected surface area generated
by a fractal's stepped outline. A multitude of similarly dimensioned curved surfaces
might actually be better, but curves are broken down into polygons for computer
modeling, so that still leaves you analyzing multifaceted flat surfaces.
(Waltham, MA--21 Dec 2010) Can you see it? Researchers at Fractal Antenna Systems
have written a new chapter in the science of making things disappears. Their wideband
microwave invisibility cloak, first revealed in March 2009, now makes its debut
for everyone to see in a new video:
https://fractenna.com/whats/whats.html
The video conclusively shows that invisibility science has taken a huge leap
with fractal design. Fractals are geometric patterns that have complex structure
built from scaled repetition of a simple pattern. Fractals make up the cloak and
its 'object' layer, producing a wideband invisibility that slipstreams microwaves
around obstacles. The other side appears with good fidelity, without the detectable
presence of the obstacle. Although a proof-of-concept of an invisibility cloak was
shown in 2006 at Duke University, such non-fractal efforts had limitations. The
Duke cloak worked in one narrow band, had many more cloaking layers, possessed a
discernable shadow, and required the obstacle to already be hiding behind a mirror.
All of those obstacles have been solved using fractals, in grids called fractal
metamaterial, as the firm's cloak reveals.
Holy Grail of Cloak Design
Notes the firm's CEO and chief inventor Nathan Cohen: "In 2008, Chinese researchers
said it was impossible to make a wideband invisibility cloak. We not only did it,
but reduced the number of cloak layers, and, most importantly, made a cloak you
can see out of. That means a sensor, for example, can be made to disappear into
the background over a wideband, but still be able to see what's outside. These attributes
are really the 'holy grail' of cloak designs, and strongly point towards a bright
future for invisibility science."
The fractal cloak works at microwaves; radio waves used by cell phones and wireless
devices. The technology directly applies to infrared, and with technology advances
in nanotechnology, can be made to make visual light invisibility cloaks, although
Cohen cautions that it will be many years before visual light invisibility cloaks
are perfected. "Other researchers are still hiding objects behind mirrors. What's
the point of a cloak if you are already hiding behind a mirror?" asked Cohen.
The firm's cloak also marks the steady and remarkable process of innovation afforded
by fractals in antennas and electronics. Oddly, many American antenna researchers
have shied away from fractal design, while interest in Asia and Europe bloomed,
noted Cohen. However, as recently shown on PBS's NOVA television program, fractals
have a great impact on antennas and electronics, and researchers from all continents
except Antarctica now boast many dozens of active research programs.
Cohen also believes that success in cloaking science requires a body of diverse
knowledge, which in his case drew upon experience as an astronomer, and curiously,
as a radio ham operator. "I have a Ph.D. in astrophysics and am a retired college
professor. But the experience I gained as a young ham radio operator was invaluable
in helping me make knowledge connections to make the cloak work. That's, in part,
why my research group did this first, and why we continue to lead in innovation
in fractal electronics, both in basic research and application to products."
Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc.
Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. (https://www.fractenna.com)
supplies products for the world's most demanding wireless, and electromagnetic applications.
Backed by over three dozen U.S., and international patents, plus dozens of patents
pending, Fractal Antenna Systems is the recognized pioneer in fractal technology,
with extensive research and field experience over 15 years in business. The company
is a privately held and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
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