Nothing can be fully transparent, physicists discover
Quantum researchers show how materials inevitably absorb light
Scientists have determined that no material can be completely transparent, according to a recent discovery in quantum physics. Professor Ivan Smalyukh holds the record for creating the most transparent material, a gel that bends light almost as little as air. However, a team of theoretical physicists has proven that even the most advanced engineering cannot create a completely transparent substance.
This limitation arises from a quantum process that converts light waves into sound waves, causing some light to be absorbed when passing through any material. The researchers believe that this universal rule applies to all materials, including fiber optics and superfluid helium, the latter of which is incredibly clear but still absorbs visible light.
The findings were published as a preprint on October 8, and the researchers expect similar rules to apply to other materials as well.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
