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Materials Mimic Mechanics

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BERKELEY, Calif., July 21, 2009 -- Astronomical phenomena such as black holes could be studied in a tabletop laboratory setting if the nascent field of artificial optical materials is combined with celestial mechanics, researchers say. Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity describes how the gravity of a massive object, such as a star, can curve space and time. This theory has been used to successfully predict astronomical observations such as the bending of starlight by the sun, small shifts in the orbit of the planet Mercury and the phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. But now it may soon be...Read full article

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    Published: July 2009
    Glossary
    black hole
    A cosmic phenomenon in which the mass and density of a star pass a critical point so that the escape velocity matches the speed of light. For this reason, light and matter are "captured'' by the black hole and cannot escape.
    electromagnetic radiation
    Radiation emitted from vibrating charged particles. A combination of oscillating electrical and magnetic fields that propagates through otherwise empty space with the velocity of light. This constant velocity equals the alternation frequency multiplied by the wavelength; hence, the frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional to each other. The spectrum of electromagnetic radiation is continuous over all frequencies.
    light
    Electromagnetic radiation detectable by the eye, ranging in wavelength from about 400 to 750 nm. In photonic applications light can be considered to cover the nonvisible portion of the spectrum which includes the ultraviolet and the infrared.
    optical
    Pertaining to optics and the phenomena of light.
    photonics
    The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...
    artificial optical materialsastronomicalblack holecarpet cloakcelestial mechanicschaosCIPTscontinuous-index photon trapselectromagnetic radiationgravitational lensingindustriallenseslightMaterialsmechanicalmetamaterialsnanostructuredNews & Featuresopticaloptical-mechanical analogyOpticsphotonicsrefractiveResearch & Technologyspacetimestarlighttabletoptheory of relativitytransformational opticsXiang Zhang

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