Transparent aluminium is 'new state of matter'

July 27th, 2009

(PhysOrg.com) -- Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. 'Transparent aluminium' previously only existed in science fiction, featuring in the movie Star Trek IV, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.

In this week’s Nature Physics an international team, led by Oxford University scientists, report that a short pulse from the FLASH laser ‘knocked out’ a core electron from every aluminium atom in a sample without disrupting the metal’s crystalline structure. This turned the aluminium nearly invisible to extreme ultraviolet radiation.

''What we have created is a completely new state of matter nobody has seen before,’ said Professor Justin Wark of Oxford University’s Department of Physics, one of the authors of the paper. ‘Transparent aluminium is just the start. The physical properties of the matter we are creating are relevant to the conditions inside large planets, and we also hope that by studying it we can gain a greater understanding of what is going on during the creation of 'miniature stars' created by high-power laser implosions, which may one day allow the power of nuclear fusion to be harnessed here on Earth.’

The discovery was made possible with the development of a new source of radiation that is ten billion times brighter than any synchrotron in the world (such as the UK’s Diamond Light Source). The FLASH laser, based in Hamburg, Germany, produces extremely brief pulses of soft X-ray light, each of which is more powerful than the output of a power plant that provides electricity to a whole city.

(continued)
www.physorg.com...


Provided by Oxford University (news : web)

[edit on 31-7-2009 by azureskys]

They didn't "create" it.

C'mon. Who are they fooling?

I know this is not a new discovery, as I found other info of other groups working with this, as far back as 2004.


My comment, is really a couple of questions, if anyone can help me.

If transparency only exists for 40 femtoseconds How much
power would it take to keep said matter see through for an hour ?

Is there a way to stabilize transparent aluminium? (so it can remain so)

Is it still classified a metal during the 40 femtoseconds even with the change in electron distribution ?
If not, then what exactly is it for that time period ?

wow, makes you wonder what eles they have out there.

Originally posted by Janitor From Mars
They didn't "create" it.

C'mon. Who are they fooling?

What do you mean exactly

Exactly what is the nature of the STATE?

Originally posted by themako
wow, makes you wonder what eles they have out there.

I've heard a radio host, who I believe got murdered, talking about the governments having tech that is "in scale" 200 to 300 years advanced. "Things you wouldn't even believe possible". Stuff like scenario calculators that basically take all scenarios into account as to actually predict the future, invisibility, global listening capabilities, stuff like that. Honestly when you think about where ALL of the tax money goes....what are they buying?

ATS Source


See through Aluminium!

10/13/2005 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFMCNS) -- With the goal being to protect military members facing the threat of armor piercing weapons on the battlefield, engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory are testing a new type of transparent armor, stronger and lighter than traditional materials.

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate in conjunction with the Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., and University of Dayton Research Institute, Ohio, is testing Aluminum Oxynitride , ALONtm, as a replacement for the traditional multi-layered glass transparencies used in existing ground and air armored vehicles.

[edit on 1-8-2009 by SLAYER69]

This turned the aluminium nearly invisible to extreme ultraviolet radiation.

Hmmmmm ... so the thread title was actually misleading. I assumed before opening the thread that the new "transparency" was based on the common accepted meaning of the word i.e. transparent to VISIBLE light.
Instead it appears this altered aluminium still is as opaque as ever UNLESS I go into my workshop and pull out my "extreme ultraviolet radiation" phaser ... even then, I still won't be able to see thru it !

Wow this takes me back about 20 years or so. That is when I first heard of transparent aluminum. On Star Trek.



Wonder what else they are cooking.


Thank op.

Originally posted by Janitor From Mars
They didn't "create" it.

C'mon. Who are they fooling?

You mean like they were given permission to finally reveal it??

I wouldn't say that. But possibly they we're nudged.

And lo' and behold the...

10/13/2005 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFMCNS) -- With the goal being to protect military members facing the threat of armor piercing weapons on the battlefield, engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory are testing a new type of transparent armor, stronger and lighter than traditional materials. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate in conjunction with the Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., and University of Dayton Research Institute, Ohio, is testing Aluminum Oxynitride , ALONtm, as a replacement for the traditional multi-layered glass transparencies used in existing ground and air armored vehicles.

--SLAYER69.

Ain't uncle sam grand?

[edit on 1-8-2009 by cenpuppie]

Originally posted by LucidDreamer85

Originally posted by Janitor From Mars
They didn't "create" it.

C'mon. Who are they fooling?

You mean like they were given permission to finally reveal it??

It's transparent, so they can't reveal it. You just have to take their word for it!

Originally posted by azureskys

Originally posted by Janitor From Mars
They didn't "create" it.

C'mon. Who are they fooling?

What do you mean exactly

I assume he means aliens.... I said in another thread,but people must think scientists don't research and work hard at anything these days and simply bring out the alien card.Assuming thats what he means of course,anyway its very cool...but im more excited about the new metal they revealed just a few weeks ago.I think warrenb made a thread about it,super strong and very light...costs a fortune to make though.

I've seen all of the older threads here at ATS and read quite a few articles
on the 'net.

I just had some questions about this process in the OP
Hoping to get some science/tech. input, if possible.

I reiterate...


1. If transparency only exists for 40 femtoseconds How much
power would it take to keep said matter see through for an hour ?

2. Is there a way to stabilize transparent aluminium? (so it can remain so)

3. Is it still classified a metal during the 40 femtoseconds even with the change in electron distribution ?

4. If not its not metal for that time period, then what exactly did it become for 40 femtoseconds



[edit on 1-8-2009 by azureskys]

"simply bring out the alien card" Good one !

You're probably correct about the intent of Janitor from Mars reply to me.
Wow aliens never crossed my mind.

[edit on 1-8-2009 by azureskys]

[edit on 1-8-2009 by azureskys]

reply to post by OmegaPoint



Looks like folks are in good humor tonight.


"It's transparent, so they can't reveal it. You just have to take their word for it!"

Originally posted by letthereaderunderstand

Originally posted by themako
wow, makes you wonder what eles they have out there.

I've heard a radio host, who I believe got murdered, talking about the governments having tech that is "in scale" 200 to 300 years advanced. "Things you wouldn't even believe possible". Stuff like scenario calculators that basically take all scenarios into account as to actually predict the future, invisibility, global listening capabilities, stuff like that. Honestly when you think about where ALL of the tax money goes....what are they buying?

True. I have no doubts that the goverment or military have very advanced technology. I mean...you have no idea what they do behind closed doors.

Wal-Mart/ASDA have invested some funding into the invisible metal. I don't think there plans will amount to much...

Wal-Mart invests in space-age shopping cart