The invisible port is about to come true

Chinese scientists have found a way to help them create a stealth gate like a witch's gate at the Harry Potter series.

In Harry Potter, the witches take the train at platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross station in London. Ordinary people cannot see this station.

Light is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths located in the visible spectrum of the eye (about 400 nm to 700 nm). Like all electromagnetic radiation, light can be described as waves of moving particles called photons. The light reaches the object and then reflects to the human eye so we see the object. If the light reaches the object but does not reflect to the eye, the object will become invisible to us. Many scientists rely on this principle to create stealth gates.

After developing a technique called " deformation optics" (transformation optics), physicists from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Fudan University (Shanghai, China) can change path of light waves.

In addition, the team successfully created luminescent crystals capable of producing 'optical illusions' . The illusion bends the path of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation, forcing them to follow predetermined directions so that they do not reach the human eye. The advantage of this type of port is that one can turn on and off the invisibility function at all times.

Picture 1 of The invisible port is about to come true

Station No. 9 ¾ at King's Cross station in Harry Potter films.(Photo: Telegraph)

" Stealth gates can block electromagnetic waves but allow other forms of matter to pass through. People outside the gate will see something like a mirror ," said Huanyang Chen, a doctor of physics at the University of Science and Public Works. Hong Kong technology, said.

Professor Ulf Leonhardt, physicist of St Andrews University (Scotland), explains the principle of ' deformation optical ' technique as follows:

' Imagine you watch fish in a glass tank. The phenomenon of reflecting light from the air to the glass makes the fish appear larger. If you put the luminescent crystals at the right angle, they will cause light to bounce back to create a hole that the human eye cannot see. It is a form of optical illusion '.

According to Leonhardt, Chinese physicists' inventions could pave the way for the creation of stealth equipment for the military. However, the Chinese team admitted they had to overcome many other problems before the invisible portals became a reality.