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Q: Can you make a laser by using gamma rays as the energy wave source ( No Answer,   3 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Can you make a laser by using gamma rays as the energy wave source
Category: Science > Physics
Asked by: redbaron007-ga
List Price: $50.00
Posted: 08 Feb 2006 19:22 PST
Expires: 10 Mar 2006 19:22 PST
Question ID: 443407
I'm just wondering why and if lasers are restricted to the visible
light spectrum. If we edge up thru ultra violet waves, and keep
going...all the way to gamma waves, and we could focus them thru a
laser, what are the possibilities of making electricity, either by the
laser pushing electrons thru a wire, or by physically turning
something (like a dynamo) to produce electricity. The power would be
comming from the high energy produced by focused gamma radiation, and
either physically pushing something, or???. Is there any magnetic
field associated with gamma rays? Can you make a laser out of a
magnetic field?(ie focus/concentrate a magnetic field?- which could be
used to generate electricity?)
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Can you make a laser by using gamma rays as the energy wave source
From: pinkfreud-ga on 08 Feb 2006 19:24 PST
 
You may find this interesting:

http://www.utdallas.edu/research/quantum/cqeseg3.htm
Subject: Re: Can you make a laser by using gamma rays as the energy wave source
From: qed100-ga on 09 Feb 2006 04:10 PST
 
Hello,

   The question of a gamma-wavelength laser may be interesting in
itself, but you seem to think it'd be useful as an energy source. Even
if you use such a laser to subsequently generate electricity, what is
the source of energy to power the gamma laser?

   Regarding your question on laser wavelengths, the laser principle
is known to work outside visible light in at least one bandwidth,
microwaves. The word laser was originally coined as an acronym for
[L]ight [A]mplification by [S]timulated [E]mission of [R]adiation:
L.A.S.E.R. A microwave laser is a M.A.S.E.R. Historically, the maser
was demonstrated in the laboratory before the laser.
Subject: Re: Can you make a laser by using gamma rays as the energy wave source
From: azdoug-ga on 10 Feb 2006 20:37 PST
 
Fission produces lots and lots of gammas...  there's your source. 
Just don't get near it.

I'm wondering if you could resonate a piezoelectric crystal with
gamma, and generate small amounts of electricity.  Then move to a much
bigger scale.

There is some research going into creating light (like from an LED for
example), transporting it, and then converting it back into
electricity (with a PV cell for example).  The benefit is the near
lossless transportation.  The problem is the inefficiecy of the
conversion process.

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