A group of theoretical physicists has concluded that creating a substance with absolute transparency is impossible. According to their findings, a quantum process converts part of light waves into sound waves, leading to inevitable light loss when passing through any material.
The limit of material transparency
Despite theoretical limitations, engineers continue to work on creating materials with minimal light loss. One of the most promising directions is the work of Ivan Smalyuk from the University of Colorado Boulder. His laboratory has created special gels that can be used for window thermal insulation.
These gels can be tuned to refract light almost as weakly as air, making them clearer than ordinary glass. However, the effectiveness of such materials depends on the layer thickness: if a layer about 30 cm thick is applied, light loss becomes significant.
Comparison with fiber optics
Other technologies are used to transmit data over long distances without significant loss. For example, fiber-optic cables laid across oceans transmit light along curved trajectories for many kilometers, after which the signal must be amplified to continue transmission.
