Trap light in a cage
$begingroup$
Is it possible to build a mirror cage in order to catch light in it?
Let's assume the surface of the mirror reflect absolutely 100% of the light.
Wich shape of the cage is the best to do so?
Is it also possible to "fill" up the cage with light?
science-fiction engineering macroengineering
asked 1 hour ago
D3f4u1tD3f4u1t
13612
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Is it possible to build a mirror cage in order to catch light in it?
Let's assume the surface of the mirror reflect absolutely 100% of the light.
Wich shape of the cage is the best to do so?
Is it also possible to "fill" up the cage with light?
science-fiction engineering macroengineering
asked 1 hour ago
D3f4u1tD3f4u1t
13612
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
This doesn't really appear to be about worldbuilding, and as such is likely to be closed, Might suggest this is better suited for physics.SE, they'd be able to give you much more detailed explanation. but on the face of it, i'd suggest this could be possible, but whatever aperture was sued to introduce the light into the box would eventually allow the light to leave it, i don't think any shape would be so much better than another at stopping this
$endgroup$
– Blade Wraith
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I know that it's impossible to do so with our current understanding of physics. that's why I wanted to ask it here with the science fiction tag. In my understanding, light is a form of energy. What if it is possible to trap light in an object to build a weapon for example. thta's the purpose of my question.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I've made a theoretical super villain who can control illumination and reflection. In other words, he can make a mirror box that glow and reflect light at the same time. As others have stated, it would be impossible with real physics, and without magic to allow light to enter, but not to leave. It would also have to be a perfect vacuum to be feasible to trap light perfectly.
$endgroup$
– Isaac
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Is it possible to build a mirror cage in order to catch light in it?
Let's assume the surface of the mirror reflect absolutely 100% of the light.
Wich shape of the cage is the best to do so?
Is it also possible to "fill" up the cage with light?
science-fiction engineering macroengineering
asked 1 hour ago
D3f4u1tD3f4u1t
13612
$endgroup$
Is it possible to build a mirror cage in order to catch light in it?
Let's assume the surface of the mirror reflect absolutely 100% of the light.
Wich shape of the cage is the best to do so?
Is it also possible to "fill" up the cage with light?
science-fiction engineering macroengineering
science-fiction engineering macroengineering
asked 1 hour ago
D3f4u1tD3f4u1t
13612
asked 1 hour ago
D3f4u1tD3f4u1t
13612
edited 1 hour ago
D3f4u1t
asked 1 hour ago
D3f4u1tD3f4u1t
13612
asked 1 hour ago
D3f4u1tD3f4u1t
13612
asked 1 hour ago
D3f4u1tD3f4u1t
13612
13612
$begingroup$
This doesn't really appear to be about worldbuilding, and as such is likely to be closed, Might suggest this is better suited for physics.SE, they'd be able to give you much more detailed explanation. but on the face of it, i'd suggest this could be possible, but whatever aperture was sued to introduce the light into the box would eventually allow the light to leave it, i don't think any shape would be so much better than another at stopping this
$endgroup$
– Blade Wraith
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I know that it's impossible to do so with our current understanding of physics. that's why I wanted to ask it here with the science fiction tag. In my understanding, light is a form of energy. What if it is possible to trap light in an object to build a weapon for example. thta's the purpose of my question.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I've made a theoretical super villain who can control illumination and reflection. In other words, he can make a mirror box that glow and reflect light at the same time. As others have stated, it would be impossible with real physics, and without magic to allow light to enter, but not to leave. It would also have to be a perfect vacuum to be feasible to trap light perfectly.
$endgroup$
– Isaac
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This doesn't really appear to be about worldbuilding, and as such is likely to be closed, Might suggest this is better suited for physics.SE, they'd be able to give you much more detailed explanation. but on the face of it, i'd suggest this could be possible, but whatever aperture was sued to introduce the light into the box would eventually allow the light to leave it, i don't think any shape would be so much better than another at stopping this
$endgroup$
– Blade Wraith
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I know that it's impossible to do so with our current understanding of physics. that's why I wanted to ask it here with the science fiction tag. In my understanding, light is a form of energy. What if it is possible to trap light in an object to build a weapon for example. thta's the purpose of my question.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I've made a theoretical super villain who can control illumination and reflection. In other words, he can make a mirror box that glow and reflect light at the same time. As others have stated, it would be impossible with real physics, and without magic to allow light to enter, but not to leave. It would also have to be a perfect vacuum to be feasible to trap light perfectly.
$endgroup$
– Isaac
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
This doesn't really appear to be about worldbuilding, and as such is likely to be closed, Might suggest this is better suited for physics.SE, they'd be able to give you much more detailed explanation. but on the face of it, i'd suggest this could be possible, but whatever aperture was sued to introduce the light into the box would eventually allow the light to leave it, i don't think any shape would be so much better than another at stopping this
$endgroup$
– Blade Wraith
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
This doesn't really appear to be about worldbuilding, and as such is likely to be closed, Might suggest this is better suited for physics.SE, they'd be able to give you much more detailed explanation. but on the face of it, i'd suggest this could be possible, but whatever aperture was sued to introduce the light into the box would eventually allow the light to leave it, i don't think any shape would be so much better than another at stopping this
$endgroup$
– Blade Wraith
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I know that it's impossible to do so with our current understanding of physics. that's why I wanted to ask it here with the science fiction tag. In my understanding, light is a form of energy. What if it is possible to trap light in an object to build a weapon for example. thta's the purpose of my question.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I know that it's impossible to do so with our current understanding of physics. that's why I wanted to ask it here with the science fiction tag. In my understanding, light is a form of energy. What if it is possible to trap light in an object to build a weapon for example. thta's the purpose of my question.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I've made a theoretical super villain who can control illumination and reflection. In other words, he can make a mirror box that glow and reflect light at the same time. As others have stated, it would be impossible with real physics, and without magic to allow light to enter, but not to leave. It would also have to be a perfect vacuum to be feasible to trap light perfectly.
$endgroup$
– Isaac
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I've made a theoretical super villain who can control illumination and reflection. In other words, he can make a mirror box that glow and reflect light at the same time. As others have stated, it would be impossible with real physics, and without magic to allow light to enter, but not to leave. It would also have to be a perfect vacuum to be feasible to trap light perfectly.
$endgroup$
– Isaac
1 hour ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
100% reflective mirrors do not exist in reality. The best we can get is dielectric mirrors, with reflectivity around 99.9% at specific wavelengths.
That aside, if you want to trap light, just shape the mirror as a sphere with perfectly reflective surfaces. Any photon inside the sphere will keep bouncing in the sphere.
A similar concept is employed in the making of the integrating sphere (the only difference being that it is not perfectly reflective)
An integrating sphere (also known as an Ulbricht sphere) is an optical component consisting of a hollow spherical cavity with its interior covered with a diffuse white reflective coating, with small holes for entrance and exit ports. Its relevant property is a uniform scattering or diffusing effect. Light rays incident on any point on the inner surface are, by multiple scattering reflections, distributed equally to all other points. The effects of the original direction of light are minimized. An integrating sphere may be thought of as a diffuser which preserves power but destroys spatial information. It is typically used with some light source and a detector for optical power measurement. A similar device is the focusing or Coblentz sphere, which differs in that it has a mirror-like (specular) inner surface rather than a diffuse inner surface.
I have not been able to find any reference to the cited Coblentz sphere, though.
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
80.8k26194395
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I think the holes in the sphere kinda defeat the purpose of trapping the light.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It may stretch the parameters of your question but I believe a combination of slowing the speed of light and capturing it in a lossless optical fibre system could do this.
The speed of light is normally about 186,000 miles per second, or fast
enough to go around the world seven times in the wink of eye.
Scientists succeeded in slowing it down to 38 mph.
They did this by shooting a laser through extremely cold sodium atoms,
which worked like “optical molasses” to slow the light down.
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=99111&page=1
By transforming the optical fiber span into an ultralong cavity laser,
we experimentally demonstrate quasilossless transmission over long (up
to 75 km) distances and virtually zero signal power variation over
shorter (up to 20 km) spans, opening the way for the practical
implementation of integrable nonlinear systems in optical fiber.
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.023902
The device could consist of an incredibly long coil of optical fibre rolled into a ball and placed into your cage. Light would be fed into one end of the fibre-optic cable until it was 'full'. It would then emerge from the other end over a period of hours.
If the light was to be kept for longer, the end of the cable could be connected back to the input. The light would go around the circuit until required.
answered 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
14.2k567133
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, because light moves at the speed of light. That means it can cover the circumference of Eart multiple times in a second. You will let all the light out before you can close the lid.
Also each photon will impart momentum to the walls upon hitting them, even if they are magically 100% reflective. Over finite time they will lose energy and become non-visible radiation.
You can get more kick for your money by buying a battery and a flashlight.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
46.6k12109236
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
100%reflective necessarily means the photon loses no energy. It will impart momentum to the wall, sure, but the wall will impart an equal and opposite momentum to the particle. Closing the lid might cause some mechanical challenges unless the box is really big though.
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
so it could be possible if the scale of the cage is bigger than, let's say 300 million m/s ?
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@JoeBloggs I believe 100% reflectiveness implies o photon absortion, but does not imply lossless collisions.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@D3f4u1t if you can magic up a machine that big that won't collapse, you can abracadabra anything.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Renan sure. it's possible to build that machine with a lot of handwave. But my idea builds on the technology of carbon nanotubes. This material, also known as the "blackiest" black color on earth, is able to trap 99,99% of the light in it, by absorbing their energy. I want to do exactly the same, but without absorbing the energy but preserve it.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not with conventional mirrors: Even with something like 99.9999999...% reflection, there are losses. The light is reflected back-and-forth a trillion times inside a box, which causes the seemingly insignificant loss to accumulate fast enough and the light fades almost instantly, in human perception.
A resonance bottle is a very small molecular structure
answered 1 hour ago
Christmas SnowChristmas Snow
2,321314
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
100% reflective mirrors do not exist in reality. The best we can get is dielectric mirrors, with reflectivity around 99.9% at specific wavelengths.
That aside, if you want to trap light, just shape the mirror as a sphere with perfectly reflective surfaces. Any photon inside the sphere will keep bouncing in the sphere.
A similar concept is employed in the making of the integrating sphere (the only difference being that it is not perfectly reflective)
An integrating sphere (also known as an Ulbricht sphere) is an optical component consisting of a hollow spherical cavity with its interior covered with a diffuse white reflective coating, with small holes for entrance and exit ports. Its relevant property is a uniform scattering or diffusing effect. Light rays incident on any point on the inner surface are, by multiple scattering reflections, distributed equally to all other points. The effects of the original direction of light are minimized. An integrating sphere may be thought of as a diffuser which preserves power but destroys spatial information. It is typically used with some light source and a detector for optical power measurement. A similar device is the focusing or Coblentz sphere, which differs in that it has a mirror-like (specular) inner surface rather than a diffuse inner surface.
I have not been able to find any reference to the cited Coblentz sphere, though.
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
80.8k26194395
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I think the holes in the sphere kinda defeat the purpose of trapping the light.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
100% reflective mirrors do not exist in reality. The best we can get is dielectric mirrors, with reflectivity around 99.9% at specific wavelengths.
That aside, if you want to trap light, just shape the mirror as a sphere with perfectly reflective surfaces. Any photon inside the sphere will keep bouncing in the sphere.
A similar concept is employed in the making of the integrating sphere (the only difference being that it is not perfectly reflective)
An integrating sphere (also known as an Ulbricht sphere) is an optical component consisting of a hollow spherical cavity with its interior covered with a diffuse white reflective coating, with small holes for entrance and exit ports. Its relevant property is a uniform scattering or diffusing effect. Light rays incident on any point on the inner surface are, by multiple scattering reflections, distributed equally to all other points. The effects of the original direction of light are minimized. An integrating sphere may be thought of as a diffuser which preserves power but destroys spatial information. It is typically used with some light source and a detector for optical power measurement. A similar device is the focusing or Coblentz sphere, which differs in that it has a mirror-like (specular) inner surface rather than a diffuse inner surface.
I have not been able to find any reference to the cited Coblentz sphere, though.
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
80.8k26194395
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I think the holes in the sphere kinda defeat the purpose of trapping the light.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
100% reflective mirrors do not exist in reality. The best we can get is dielectric mirrors, with reflectivity around 99.9% at specific wavelengths.
That aside, if you want to trap light, just shape the mirror as a sphere with perfectly reflective surfaces. Any photon inside the sphere will keep bouncing in the sphere.
A similar concept is employed in the making of the integrating sphere (the only difference being that it is not perfectly reflective)
An integrating sphere (also known as an Ulbricht sphere) is an optical component consisting of a hollow spherical cavity with its interior covered with a diffuse white reflective coating, with small holes for entrance and exit ports. Its relevant property is a uniform scattering or diffusing effect. Light rays incident on any point on the inner surface are, by multiple scattering reflections, distributed equally to all other points. The effects of the original direction of light are minimized. An integrating sphere may be thought of as a diffuser which preserves power but destroys spatial information. It is typically used with some light source and a detector for optical power measurement. A similar device is the focusing or Coblentz sphere, which differs in that it has a mirror-like (specular) inner surface rather than a diffuse inner surface.
I have not been able to find any reference to the cited Coblentz sphere, though.
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
80.8k26194395
$endgroup$
100% reflective mirrors do not exist in reality. The best we can get is dielectric mirrors, with reflectivity around 99.9% at specific wavelengths.
That aside, if you want to trap light, just shape the mirror as a sphere with perfectly reflective surfaces. Any photon inside the sphere will keep bouncing in the sphere.
A similar concept is employed in the making of the integrating sphere (the only difference being that it is not perfectly reflective)
An integrating sphere (also known as an Ulbricht sphere) is an optical component consisting of a hollow spherical cavity with its interior covered with a diffuse white reflective coating, with small holes for entrance and exit ports. Its relevant property is a uniform scattering or diffusing effect. Light rays incident on any point on the inner surface are, by multiple scattering reflections, distributed equally to all other points. The effects of the original direction of light are minimized. An integrating sphere may be thought of as a diffuser which preserves power but destroys spatial information. It is typically used with some light source and a detector for optical power measurement. A similar device is the focusing or Coblentz sphere, which differs in that it has a mirror-like (specular) inner surface rather than a diffuse inner surface.
I have not been able to find any reference to the cited Coblentz sphere, though.
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
80.8k26194395
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
80.8k26194395
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
80.8k26194395
answered 1 hour ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
80.8k26194395
80.8k26194395
$begingroup$
I think the holes in the sphere kinda defeat the purpose of trapping the light.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I think the holes in the sphere kinda defeat the purpose of trapping the light.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I think the holes in the sphere kinda defeat the purpose of trapping the light.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I think the holes in the sphere kinda defeat the purpose of trapping the light.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It may stretch the parameters of your question but I believe a combination of slowing the speed of light and capturing it in a lossless optical fibre system could do this.
The speed of light is normally about 186,000 miles per second, or fast
enough to go around the world seven times in the wink of eye.
Scientists succeeded in slowing it down to 38 mph.
They did this by shooting a laser through extremely cold sodium atoms,
which worked like “optical molasses” to slow the light down.
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=99111&page=1
By transforming the optical fiber span into an ultralong cavity laser,
we experimentally demonstrate quasilossless transmission over long (up
to 75 km) distances and virtually zero signal power variation over
shorter (up to 20 km) spans, opening the way for the practical
implementation of integrable nonlinear systems in optical fiber.
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.023902
The device could consist of an incredibly long coil of optical fibre rolled into a ball and placed into your cage. Light would be fed into one end of the fibre-optic cable until it was 'full'. It would then emerge from the other end over a period of hours.
If the light was to be kept for longer, the end of the cable could be connected back to the input. The light would go around the circuit until required.
answered 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
14.2k567133
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It may stretch the parameters of your question but I believe a combination of slowing the speed of light and capturing it in a lossless optical fibre system could do this.
The speed of light is normally about 186,000 miles per second, or fast
enough to go around the world seven times in the wink of eye.
Scientists succeeded in slowing it down to 38 mph.
They did this by shooting a laser through extremely cold sodium atoms,
which worked like “optical molasses” to slow the light down.
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=99111&page=1
By transforming the optical fiber span into an ultralong cavity laser,
we experimentally demonstrate quasilossless transmission over long (up
to 75 km) distances and virtually zero signal power variation over
shorter (up to 20 km) spans, opening the way for the practical
implementation of integrable nonlinear systems in optical fiber.
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.023902
The device could consist of an incredibly long coil of optical fibre rolled into a ball and placed into your cage. Light would be fed into one end of the fibre-optic cable until it was 'full'. It would then emerge from the other end over a period of hours.
If the light was to be kept for longer, the end of the cable could be connected back to the input. The light would go around the circuit until required.
answered 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
14.2k567133
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It may stretch the parameters of your question but I believe a combination of slowing the speed of light and capturing it in a lossless optical fibre system could do this.
The speed of light is normally about 186,000 miles per second, or fast
enough to go around the world seven times in the wink of eye.
Scientists succeeded in slowing it down to 38 mph.
They did this by shooting a laser through extremely cold sodium atoms,
which worked like “optical molasses” to slow the light down.
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=99111&page=1
By transforming the optical fiber span into an ultralong cavity laser,
we experimentally demonstrate quasilossless transmission over long (up
to 75 km) distances and virtually zero signal power variation over
shorter (up to 20 km) spans, opening the way for the practical
implementation of integrable nonlinear systems in optical fiber.
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.023902
The device could consist of an incredibly long coil of optical fibre rolled into a ball and placed into your cage. Light would be fed into one end of the fibre-optic cable until it was 'full'. It would then emerge from the other end over a period of hours.
If the light was to be kept for longer, the end of the cable could be connected back to the input. The light would go around the circuit until required.
answered 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
14.2k567133
$endgroup$
It may stretch the parameters of your question but I believe a combination of slowing the speed of light and capturing it in a lossless optical fibre system could do this.
The speed of light is normally about 186,000 miles per second, or fast
enough to go around the world seven times in the wink of eye.
Scientists succeeded in slowing it down to 38 mph.
They did this by shooting a laser through extremely cold sodium atoms,
which worked like “optical molasses” to slow the light down.
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=99111&page=1
By transforming the optical fiber span into an ultralong cavity laser,
we experimentally demonstrate quasilossless transmission over long (up
to 75 km) distances and virtually zero signal power variation over
shorter (up to 20 km) spans, opening the way for the practical
implementation of integrable nonlinear systems in optical fiber.
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.023902
The device could consist of an incredibly long coil of optical fibre rolled into a ball and placed into your cage. Light would be fed into one end of the fibre-optic cable until it was 'full'. It would then emerge from the other end over a period of hours.
If the light was to be kept for longer, the end of the cable could be connected back to the input. The light would go around the circuit until required.
answered 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
14.2k567133
edited 52 mins ago
answered 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
14.2k567133
answered 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
14.2k567133
answered 1 hour ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
14.2k567133
14.2k567133
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, because light moves at the speed of light. That means it can cover the circumference of Eart multiple times in a second. You will let all the light out before you can close the lid.
Also each photon will impart momentum to the walls upon hitting them, even if they are magically 100% reflective. Over finite time they will lose energy and become non-visible radiation.
You can get more kick for your money by buying a battery and a flashlight.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
46.6k12109236
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
100%reflective necessarily means the photon loses no energy. It will impart momentum to the wall, sure, but the wall will impart an equal and opposite momentum to the particle. Closing the lid might cause some mechanical challenges unless the box is really big though.
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
so it could be possible if the scale of the cage is bigger than, let's say 300 million m/s ?
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@JoeBloggs I believe 100% reflectiveness implies o photon absortion, but does not imply lossless collisions.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@D3f4u1t if you can magic up a machine that big that won't collapse, you can abracadabra anything.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Renan sure. it's possible to build that machine with a lot of handwave. But my idea builds on the technology of carbon nanotubes. This material, also known as the "blackiest" black color on earth, is able to trap 99,99% of the light in it, by absorbing their energy. I want to do exactly the same, but without absorbing the energy but preserve it.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, because light moves at the speed of light. That means it can cover the circumference of Eart multiple times in a second. You will let all the light out before you can close the lid.
Also each photon will impart momentum to the walls upon hitting them, even if they are magically 100% reflective. Over finite time they will lose energy and become non-visible radiation.
You can get more kick for your money by buying a battery and a flashlight.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
46.6k12109236
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
100%reflective necessarily means the photon loses no energy. It will impart momentum to the wall, sure, but the wall will impart an equal and opposite momentum to the particle. Closing the lid might cause some mechanical challenges unless the box is really big though.
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
so it could be possible if the scale of the cage is bigger than, let's say 300 million m/s ?
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@JoeBloggs I believe 100% reflectiveness implies o photon absortion, but does not imply lossless collisions.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@D3f4u1t if you can magic up a machine that big that won't collapse, you can abracadabra anything.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Renan sure. it's possible to build that machine with a lot of handwave. But my idea builds on the technology of carbon nanotubes. This material, also known as the "blackiest" black color on earth, is able to trap 99,99% of the light in it, by absorbing their energy. I want to do exactly the same, but without absorbing the energy but preserve it.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, because light moves at the speed of light. That means it can cover the circumference of Eart multiple times in a second. You will let all the light out before you can close the lid.
Also each photon will impart momentum to the walls upon hitting them, even if they are magically 100% reflective. Over finite time they will lose energy and become non-visible radiation.
You can get more kick for your money by buying a battery and a flashlight.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
46.6k12109236
$endgroup$
No, because light moves at the speed of light. That means it can cover the circumference of Eart multiple times in a second. You will let all the light out before you can close the lid.
Also each photon will impart momentum to the walls upon hitting them, even if they are magically 100% reflective. Over finite time they will lose energy and become non-visible radiation.
You can get more kick for your money by buying a battery and a flashlight.
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
46.6k12109236
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
46.6k12109236
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
46.6k12109236
answered 1 hour ago
RenanRenan
46.6k12109236
46.6k12109236
$begingroup$
100%reflective necessarily means the photon loses no energy. It will impart momentum to the wall, sure, but the wall will impart an equal and opposite momentum to the particle. Closing the lid might cause some mechanical challenges unless the box is really big though.
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
so it could be possible if the scale of the cage is bigger than, let's say 300 million m/s ?
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@JoeBloggs I believe 100% reflectiveness implies o photon absortion, but does not imply lossless collisions.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@D3f4u1t if you can magic up a machine that big that won't collapse, you can abracadabra anything.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Renan sure. it's possible to build that machine with a lot of handwave. But my idea builds on the technology of carbon nanotubes. This material, also known as the "blackiest" black color on earth, is able to trap 99,99% of the light in it, by absorbing their energy. I want to do exactly the same, but without absorbing the energy but preserve it.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
100%reflective necessarily means the photon loses no energy. It will impart momentum to the wall, sure, but the wall will impart an equal and opposite momentum to the particle. Closing the lid might cause some mechanical challenges unless the box is really big though.
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
so it could be possible if the scale of the cage is bigger than, let's say 300 million m/s ?
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@JoeBloggs I believe 100% reflectiveness implies o photon absortion, but does not imply lossless collisions.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@D3f4u1t if you can magic up a machine that big that won't collapse, you can abracadabra anything.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Renan sure. it's possible to build that machine with a lot of handwave. But my idea builds on the technology of carbon nanotubes. This material, also known as the "blackiest" black color on earth, is able to trap 99,99% of the light in it, by absorbing their energy. I want to do exactly the same, but without absorbing the energy but preserve it.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
100%reflective necessarily means the photon loses no energy. It will impart momentum to the wall, sure, but the wall will impart an equal and opposite momentum to the particle. Closing the lid might cause some mechanical challenges unless the box is really big though.
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
100%reflective necessarily means the photon loses no energy. It will impart momentum to the wall, sure, but the wall will impart an equal and opposite momentum to the particle. Closing the lid might cause some mechanical challenges unless the box is really big though.
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
so it could be possible if the scale of the cage is bigger than, let's say 300 million m/s ?
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
so it could be possible if the scale of the cage is bigger than, let's say 300 million m/s ?
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@JoeBloggs I believe 100% reflectiveness implies o photon absortion, but does not imply lossless collisions.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@JoeBloggs I believe 100% reflectiveness implies o photon absortion, but does not imply lossless collisions.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@D3f4u1t if you can magic up a machine that big that won't collapse, you can abracadabra anything.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@D3f4u1t if you can magic up a machine that big that won't collapse, you can abracadabra anything.
$endgroup$
– Renan
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Renan sure. it's possible to build that machine with a lot of handwave. But my idea builds on the technology of carbon nanotubes. This material, also known as the "blackiest" black color on earth, is able to trap 99,99% of the light in it, by absorbing their energy. I want to do exactly the same, but without absorbing the energy but preserve it.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
@Renan sure. it's possible to build that machine with a lot of handwave. But my idea builds on the technology of carbon nanotubes. This material, also known as the "blackiest" black color on earth, is able to trap 99,99% of the light in it, by absorbing their energy. I want to do exactly the same, but without absorbing the energy but preserve it.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not with conventional mirrors: Even with something like 99.9999999...% reflection, there are losses. The light is reflected back-and-forth a trillion times inside a box, which causes the seemingly insignificant loss to accumulate fast enough and the light fades almost instantly, in human perception.
A resonance bottle is a very small molecular structure
answered 1 hour ago
Christmas SnowChristmas Snow
2,321314
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not with conventional mirrors: Even with something like 99.9999999...% reflection, there are losses. The light is reflected back-and-forth a trillion times inside a box, which causes the seemingly insignificant loss to accumulate fast enough and the light fades almost instantly, in human perception.
A resonance bottle is a very small molecular structure
answered 1 hour ago
Christmas SnowChristmas Snow
2,321314
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Not with conventional mirrors: Even with something like 99.9999999...% reflection, there are losses. The light is reflected back-and-forth a trillion times inside a box, which causes the seemingly insignificant loss to accumulate fast enough and the light fades almost instantly, in human perception.
A resonance bottle is a very small molecular structure
answered 1 hour ago
Christmas SnowChristmas Snow
2,321314
$endgroup$
Not with conventional mirrors: Even with something like 99.9999999...% reflection, there are losses. The light is reflected back-and-forth a trillion times inside a box, which causes the seemingly insignificant loss to accumulate fast enough and the light fades almost instantly, in human perception.
A resonance bottle is a very small molecular structure
answered 1 hour ago
Christmas SnowChristmas Snow
2,321314
answered 1 hour ago
Christmas SnowChristmas Snow
2,321314
answered 1 hour ago
Christmas SnowChristmas Snow
2,321314
answered 1 hour ago
Christmas SnowChristmas Snow
2,321314
2,321314
add a comment |
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
This doesn't really appear to be about worldbuilding, and as such is likely to be closed, Might suggest this is better suited for physics.SE, they'd be able to give you much more detailed explanation. but on the face of it, i'd suggest this could be possible, but whatever aperture was sued to introduce the light into the box would eventually allow the light to leave it, i don't think any shape would be so much better than another at stopping this
$endgroup$
– Blade Wraith
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I know that it's impossible to do so with our current understanding of physics. that's why I wanted to ask it here with the science fiction tag. In my understanding, light is a form of energy. What if it is possible to trap light in an object to build a weapon for example. thta's the purpose of my question.
$endgroup$
– D3f4u1t
1 hour ago
$begingroup$
I've made a theoretical super villain who can control illumination and reflection. In other words, he can make a mirror box that glow and reflect light at the same time. As others have stated, it would be impossible with real physics, and without magic to allow light to enter, but not to leave. It would also have to be a perfect vacuum to be feasible to trap light perfectly.
$endgroup$
– Isaac
1 hour ago