Imagine the opportunities that could emerge from refuting the basic law of physics - that at least some energy is lost in every energy conversion.
That is exactly what researchers at the ANU, in collaboration with physicists from Singapore and Germany, claim to have done.
Lead researcher Dr Andrey Miroshnichenko has been developing the project for five years and says it could "revolutionise how we use energy". This includes improved renewables, safer chemotherapy, clearer-X-ray imaging, extended battery life and faster technology... But its applications could reach far beyond our daily lives, up to the mysterious black matter of the universe.
What genius breakthrough could possibly do all of the above?
The structure is simple; it's a thin, tiny disk. What's held inside is the key.
"The idea is that light is trapped inside and doesn't escape," Dr Miroshnichenko explained.
"At first sight, it contradicts classical physics, because as it was known, everything scatters. All accelerated electrons, they always radiate."
Dr Miroshnichenko and his colleagues have found a way to prevent this scattering, also called "leaking", similar to throwing a pebble in a pond without it splashing. This "radiation-less energy" could provide further insight into the stability of atoms, why orbiting electrons do not radiate, and how all matter is held together.
"It might also reveal some of the mystery of black matter in space, being one possible explanation for it," he said.
Holding more energy in a compact space without any escaping means solar energy could transfer at a higher concentration. Dr Miroshnichenko said this could contribute to an increased reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as cheaper, mass protection of solar panels.
"You can also convert this energy to electricity in more efficient ways because it will be held in small volumes," Dr Miroshnichenko said.
"So other applications could be to electrical ones such as computers, and smartphones . We could make all of this communication faster."
A more efficient use of energy could also mean higher resolution imaging, which could be beneficial for the medical industry among many others. The researchers claim it could even improve the accuracy, speed and safety of removing cancerous cells.
Dr Miroshnichenko compared the doughnut-like object to Harry Potter's invisibility cloak. He said he'll be manipulating and improving power transfer from one entity to another while it remains invisible to an observer.
The concept, which took a whole year for the physicists to simply wrap their head around, has been tested on a minuscule scale. But Dr Miroshnichenko is certain he could magnify it to these larger and significant applications.
"All the technology is already here [in Australia] so it can be used almost immediately."
The research is being replicated in Singapore, and the team is in the process of finding industry partners to take their impressive brainchild to the final stage.
