Experimental Verification of Illusion Optics with Optical Null Media

TL;DR

This paper experimentally demonstrates an illusion device based on transformation optics that makes objects appear larger to outside observers by using optical null media realized with layered metal-dielectric structures.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental verification of illusion optics using ONM, including fabrication and scattering measurements to validate the illusion effect.

Findings

Successful fabrication of ONM using layered structures

Experimental demonstration of object size illusion

Analytical solutions supporting the observed effects

Abstract

We experimentally show the results of the illusion device designed by the transformation optics (TO) technique. The coordinate transformation maps a zero thickness in virtual space to a finite region in physical space, yielding extreme material properties called optical null media (ONM). As a result, an object placed inside the core media will look larger to an outside observer. ONM media is realized using metal-dielectric layered structures in cylindrical coordinates. Also closed-form solutions for the scattering field from a cylindrical object are given in detail to prove illusion effect analytically. ONM media is realized using air and iron sheets in radial structure using effective medium theory. We experimentally fabricate the ONM and show the scattering effect using the ONM. For achieving illusion validation, a metallic pipe has been inserted into the center of the core medium made of Plexiglas and surrounded by ONM.