Oxford scientists working in Hamburg claim to have discovered transparent aluminium with the use of laser technology.
The experiment involved a short pulse from a laser, which removed a core electron from every aluminium atom in a sample.
Professor Justin Wark of Oxford University’s Department of Physics said, “What we have created is a completely new state of matter nobody has seen before.”
The aluminium was transparent for only 40 femtoseconds – a fraction of a nanosecond. However, this discovery is significant because it may lead to greater understanding of the creation of miniature stars created during laser implosions.
“It’s almost as surprising as finding that you can turn lead into gold with light,” said Prof. Wark.
