What does happen when one blows in a soda can? An almost pure tone is generated, a signature that it resonantly interacts with audible sound. At a different scale, a similar phenomenon occurs when a light wave interacts with a material. The interaction depends on two criteria: the chemical composition of the material, and its atomic structure.
Researchers from the Institut Langevin (ESPCI ParisTech, CNRS) have developed an original experiment based on honeycomb arrangements of soda cans to create an acoustic superlens. Their work was published in the renowned Nature journal on september 4th, paving the way for new research in the field of composite materials.