Is there an invisible, solid material with the refractive index of air?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Archosaur
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Material
AI Thread Summary
A clear, solid material with the refractive index of air would be essentially invisible, sparking interest in its potential applications. Aerogel is noted as the closest existing material, with a refractive index as low as 1.1, though it is not completely clear. The discussion highlights the intriguing properties of such materials and their unique visual effects. While no perfect solution exists yet, the concept of an invisible sphere remains a fascinating idea. The exploration of materials like Aerogel continues to inspire innovative thoughts in optics.
Archosaur
Messages
333
Reaction score
4
I think it would be swell to have a sphere made of a clear, solid material that had the refractive index of air, because it would essentially be invisible. Is there anything even close to this?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The closest I think you are going to get is Aerogel, which can have a index of refraction as low as 1.1 (air is ~1).
 
It's not quite clear, but that almost makes it cooler. Good thinking!
 
Back
Top