'Lightfoil' idea shows light can provide lift

'Lightfoil' idea shows light can provide lift

www.bbc.co.uk

Just as air causes lift on the wings of an aeroplane, light can do the same trick, researchers have said.

The effect, first shown in simulations, was proven by showing it in action on tiny glass rods.

Like the aerofoil concept of wings, the approach, published in Nature Photonics, works by making use of the radiation pressure of light.

The results are of interest for steering "solar sails", a spacecraft propulsion based on the same force.

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This is a pretty fascinating story coming out of the BBC today on the success of experiments with light foils. A new technology that could possibly revolutionize the ability for long distance space travel if successfully developed!

According to the article a craft using this technology could utilize solar power, and travel at a significant fraction of the speed of light, being able to traverse extremely long distances in the process while creating its own fuel source.

As many people hunger for a more aggressive space exploration program, this technology seems like it could literally give such hopes a serious lift.

It will be interesting to see what future developments come from this discovery.


www.bbc.co.uk
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Interesting find, if this does work do you really think they would use this technology, not as long as we are in bed with big oil.

The information below is from your link illustrating how it works.

Time-lapse images show the progression of the "lightfoil"[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d90a753e3578.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/66e298a7839e.gif[/atsimg]

*Light coming in from the left passes through the glass "lightfoil"

*Some passes straight through the back surface, while some is reflected and exits through the bottom (white arrows)

*This change in the light particles' momentum is balanced by another force: lift (blue arrow)

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reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler


This is a perfect example of the frequent disconnect between theoretical physics and practical applications. A photon of blue light, which has a wanelength of about 476 nanometers has roughly 25 kilojoules per mol of energy. To equal 200 horsepower would require roughly 360,000 moles of these photons. And that is a big number since a mole has 6.02E23 of whatever you're measuring. And that's a lot!!

This is nothing new..... Japan's way ahead of the game........


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