Project - Light and Distance

[bikes222]

Hi,

 

I am currently doing a project looking into the absorption of light and how to reduce this. I also want to look into where light goes. The aim of the project is to find which material and which way i use these materials is most effective at harnessing light over longer distances.

 

I understand that light is absorbed by materials and the energy is represented as molecular vibrations.

 

What i want to do is transfer the light over a long distance for example down a tube lined with tin foil however will the light fade over long distances?

 

Also if i split this light into different directions will its brightness also reduce? I understand that if you did this with normal materials the light would fade very quickly but is there a material ( like a metal foil ) that doesn’t absorb any at all.

 

Any help would be great hopefully I can start a good discussion.

 

Cheers

[swansont]

Light is going to "fade" (i.e. the intensity is reduced) if it is absorbed, scattered, or it diverges (or is split). These are reasons that fiber optics are used for light transport.

[doG]

I understand that if you did this with normal materials the light would fade very quickly but is there a material ( like a metal foil ) that doesn’t absorb any at all.

 

Yes, a perfect vacuum will not absorb any light. Anything else will absorb, scatter or otherwise disperse the photons of the light beam. As swansont mentioned, fiber optics are an ideal carrier. Some type of laser would make an ideal source.

[bikes222]

hi,

 

ok sounds promising. So i basically need to beam the light down a fiber optic cable. If i split this light in many difrections would the power be split and therefore reduced once the light ends up at its final destination?

[doG]

If i split this light in many difrections would the power be split and therefore reduced once the light ends up at its final destination?

 

Yes

[Klaynos]

Remember fibre optics also have some losses associated with them.