Scientists Use 4D to Reach Metamaterial Breakthrough
Scientists Use 4D to Reach Metamaterial Breakthrough

Scientists Use 4D to Reach , Metamaterial Breakthrough.

'Popular Mechanics' reports that the fourth dimension is helping scientists to reach some sci-fi level breakthroughs in the development of metamaterials.

Using advanced mathematics and light, researchers are able to develop "synthetic dimensions" beyond the three dimensions we normally perceive.

.

A team of scientists at the University of Missouri College of Engineering developed a metamaterial capable of controlling energy waves on the surface of solid materials.

A team of scientists at the University of Missouri College of Engineering developed a metamaterial capable of controlling energy waves on the surface of solid materials.

'Popular Mechanics' reports that these waves can determine the way vibrations travel along a surface.

The team's findings were published last week in the journal 'Science Advances.'.

Conventional materials are limited to only three dimensions with an X, Y and Z axis, Guoliang Huang, MU professor and study co-author, via 'Popular Mechanics'.

But now we are building materials in the synthetic dimension, or 4D, which allows us to manipulate the energy wave path to go exactly where we want it to go as it travels from one corner of a material to another, Guoliang Huang, MU professor and study co-author, via 'Popular Mechanics'.

The new metamaterial represents a breakthrough in the field of mathematics known as topology, which focuses on shapes and their arrangement in space.

The new paper describes "topological pumping," which , "allows waves to navigate a sample undisturbed by disorders and defects.".

'Popular Mechanics' reports that the breakthrough could have implications for everything from quantum computing to developing earthquake-proof structures.

.

'Popular Mechanics' reports that the breakthrough could have implications for everything from quantum computing to developing earthquake-proof structures.