Purdue University’s Vladimir Shalaev is giving the following paper tomorrow :

“Negative-Index Metamaterials in the Visible Range” (W38 1).

Could this be the first invisibility cloak for visible light?

Shalaev has already worked out a way to make metamaterials that respond magnetically to visible light, and has come tantalizingly close to creating negative index materials in the visible range.

I asked Shalaev if he would be unveiling an invisibility cloak on Thursday — but he just grinned, said “come to my talk”, and then he vanished into thin air!