Curving laser "light bullets" may help scientists monitor air pollution.Byline: ANI Washington, April 10 (ANI): A new study has determined that laser "light bullets" that can curve through the air might someday help scientists monitor air pollution. The bullets are created by extremely short-duration, high-intensity laser pulses, lead study author Pavel Polynkin, a physicist at the University of Arizona (body, education) University of Arizona - The University was founded in 1885 as a Land Grant institution with a three-fold mission of teaching, research and public service. , US, told the National Geographic News. The pulses are so rapid that the beam is broader than it is wide-creating what Polynkin calls "pancakes" of light. But, the use of complex lasers that produce wave patterns called airy beams causes the brightest part of the beam to bend as the pancake pancake, thin, flat cake, made of batter and baked on a griddle or fried in a pan. Pancakes, probably the oldest form of bread, are known in different forms throughout the world. of light speeds away. The super-brightness of the laser can also cause the pancake to change shape as it moves through air, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Polynkin. "If the intensity exceeds a threshold, then the beam tends to self-focus-the pancake wants to become a very short needle," he said. Within that needle, the light intensity gets so high that the air around it becomes electrically charged, briefly creating a conductive conductive having the quality of readily conducting electric current. conductive flooring flooring or floor covering made specially conductive to electrical current, usually by the inclusion of copper wiring that is earthed path of plasma. Previous work suggested that such light bullets could be used to create human-induced lightning, which has implications for lightning control around sensitive structures such as tall buildings and airplanes. When combined with the Airy beams, these plasma-producing lasers can also create curving "needle" bullets that might have other uses, Polynkin's study has suggested. According to Polynkin, the light pulses leave behind curving plasma trails that emit their own light, providing a way to monitor air pollution in the upper atmosphere without the need for airplanes or weather balloons weather balloon, balloon used in the measurement and evaluation of mostly upper atmospheric conditions (see atmosphere). Information may be gathered during the vertical ascent of the balloon through the atmosphere or during its motions once it has reached a . Shot into the sky, these light trails would illuminate the chemical signatures of atmospheric pollutants pollutants see environmental pollution. , which can then be recorded remotely. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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