Comment on Does color change how hot a laser can get something?

RobotToaster@mander.xyz ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

• geogle@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  So where do you stand on infrared lasers? Light is already a junk term for the EM spectrum that we can see, otherwise holding no specific importance.

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  • SirSamuel@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Oh I have a question! Do all frequencies on the EM spectrum emit photons? Like, when gamma rays or X rays or microwaves hit something are photons bouncing off/being absorbed and we just can’t see them?

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    • Successful_Try543@feddit.de ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      All EM waves are photons. When X and gamma rays interact with matter, e.g. by Compton scattering, i.e. hitting electrons of an atom. Thereby the photons loose discrete amounts of energy, leading to an increase of their wavelengths, and the electrons are then lifted on corresponding higher energy levels. When the electrons ‘fall’ back onto their base levels, additional photons are emitted.

      Microwaves, however, have to low energy for this kind of interaction. They e.g. induce vibrations and oscillations of molecules which is perceived as a temperature increase.

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      • SirSamuel@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Ooh neat! Thank you, very well described for a layman such as myself

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• marcos@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Anyway, a maser or a xaser would create completely different responses on the material. There’s a good reason we use different names.

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• XeroxCool@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Eh, I think it’s helpful to point that out. If someone hit a dead end researching lasers, not making it out of the visible spectrum, that could explain why. Maybe they missed the line stating where laser ends, maybe the article assumed the reader would know that already.

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• Sethayy@sh.itjust.works ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  You’re telling me only visible light counts as light to lasers?

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  • Successful_Try543@feddit.de ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Yes, light is usually defined as the part of the EM spectrum the (human) eye is capable of perceiving..

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    • captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      explains all the CO2 infrared lasers out there.

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      • Successful_Try543@feddit.de ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        The EM waves of near spectra, UV and IR, are commonly often referred to as ‘light’ as well. Wikipedia even states:

        In physics, the term “light” may refer more broadly to electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength, whether visible or not. In this sense, gamma rays, X-rays, microwaves and radio waves are also light.

        Which fits to my perception of physicists, where in astronomy every element starting at Lithium is referred to as ‘metal’.

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• DarkThoughts@fedia.io ⁨6⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  It's different wavelengths. It's our eyes that fail to actually be able to see in certain ones.

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