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Move Objects With The Power Of Light


verno

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There were a number of stories on this a few weeks ago. It's somewhat unusual to choose one that classifies this as paranormal and talks about shrinking people.

 

As a propulsion source it's pretty inefficient. But it does have some advantages, since the "engine" and fuel don't have to be carried aboard the craft, so the craft can be lighter.

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Perhaps, but that's not the only thing that this new technology can create. Shrinking would have to come from a completely different invention, although with large sources of light, perhaps it can power an airplane.

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Perhaps, but that's not the only thing that this new technology can create. Shrinking would have to come from a completely different invention, although with large sources of light, perhaps it can power an airplane.

 

That's easily calculable. For radiation pressure to levitate a 1kg object, it requires about a flux capacitor's worth of power: 1.21 GW.

http://blogs.scienceforums.net/swansont/archives/60

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I think the trick would be to get all the energy to result in linear motion of the object instead of the electrons absorbing it. How could you prevent photons from resulting in either heat or re-emission? Maybe the key is low-frequency waves since higher frequency ones seem to get absorbed by particles similar in size to the wave, which seems to result in small scale energy transfers like heat and re-emission of radiation.

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How to make much photons? Beside the photon wave length, photon intensity is another problem. Can we make continuous photon generator?

 

 

Yes, it's called a laser, or light bulb, or microwave, or heater coil, or fire.... Humans generate photons, something like 100 watts worth.

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I would have thought that reflection of photons (rather than reception/absorption) would generate the greatest force on the solar sail - if we conserve momentum then an absorption would give a "push" of a certain amount but a reflection would have to give twice that much.

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I would have thought that reflection of photons (rather than reception/absorption) would generate the greatest force on the solar sail - if we conserve momentum then an absorption would give a "push" of a certain amount but a reflection would have to give twice that much.

 

This is indeed what happens. Reflection is the best.

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