Many people invest in mesh wireless networking solutions to get rid of dead spots caused by walls and other barriers. However, what if you could effectively eliminate the walls as an obstacle?
Originally reported in Newsweek, Austrian scientists at the Vienna University of Technology and Rennes University detail a method of removing reflections caused by dense materials. The scientists revealed their findings in a paper entitled “Anti-reflection structure for perfect ransmission through complex media.”
The scientists liken their solution to how the anti-reflective coating on glasses work. The coating allows light to traverse more freely through the lenses and thus prevent the light from bouncing off the lenses causing reflections. Similarly, the scientists use a special coating to allow Wi-Fi radio waves to travel easily through solid material.
Sketch of the anti-reflection concept
“You first have to simply send certain waves through the medium and measure exactly how these waves are reflected by the material,” said Michael Horodynski, one of the co-authors. “We were able to show that, with this information, a corresponding compensating medium can be calculated for any medium that scatters waves in a complex way, so that the combination of both media allows the wave to pass completely.”
In laymen’s terms, the scientists were able to mathematically calculate how radio waves move through a material and then use that information to create a substance that allows it to avoid reflections.
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They first experimented with microwaves, sending it through a “metallic waveguide” that was filled with small metal and teflon objects. Only half of the microwaves made it through while the rest was reflected. The behavior of the microwaves through the waveguide was measured and an anti-reflective region was created. A subsequent test saw 100 percent of the microwaves get through.
Not only could this technique be used to enable better Wi-Fi reception, but other radio waves such as cellular and even telescopes that use radio waves to discover distant objects in the universe.
Obviously, we’re probably far away from any practical applications, but the future implications are indeed interesting. While you wait for better Wi-Fi, check out our deals for OLED gaming TVs and a new Dell XPS desktop.
David Matthews is a Freelance Writer for IGN.
