People generally balk at the idea of scientists experimenting with and manipulating certain pillars of physical reality, whether that be gene splicing, artificial intelligence, or nuclear fusion.
But in the last couple of decades, a new twist on this modern Island of Dr. Moreau-style narrative has surfaced in the form of scientists experimenting on high-velocity elementary particles (such as the CERN Hadron Collider) and other quantum enigmas.
Laser physicists recently chortled "hold my beer" in announcing that they are developing a laser so powerful it can shred all matter, including the very electrons and nuclei that constitute the fabric of reality itself.
Earlier this month, the physics journal Physical Review Letters published a paper discussing how new technology could allow a high-velocity laser to pierce "through [the] fabric of the Universe." The trick, according to a researcher at the Université Paris-Saclay, is to anchor and focus the laser using a mirror made of plasma.
In an analysis written for Ars Technica, physicist and writer Chris Lee broke down the logistical hurdles the new technique could overcome. By consolidating a 5-10 petawatt laser for around 5-5000 joules of energy for somewhere between a picosecond or femtosecond, scientists can muster an intensity of 1022W/cm2, which is when a plasma state kicks in and creates a conductive gas of excited particles whose electrons reflect light.
Other laser experiments have concentrated as much as 200 petawatts of power on a target for less than a trillionth of a second.
Using a plasma mirror, scientists can reach 1029W/cm2 and accelerate electrons to the point where they will be "generating real charges from the apparent nothingness of empty space."
"The way the mirror oscillates also means that the light frequencies are all multiples of each other," writes Chris Lee. "The mirror reflects all these colors together, and they add up to a pulse that is even shorter in time. In fact, the pulse goes from being 20fs in duration to 0.1fs (a femtosecond is 10-15s). This by itself increases the intensity by a factor of 100. The shorter wavelength also means that the light focuses to a smaller spot.
"The end result is a factor of 1,000 higher intensity for the same input laser and a simple mirror swap."
Then what happens?
"They can all stare in wonder at the hole they made," Lee concludes.
What is the purpose of using lasers to rip a hole in space/time?
Previous laser experiments have sought to discover virtual particles, extra dimensions, and even dark matter. Last year, Chinese scientists used a 100-petawatt laser — "10,000 times more energy than there is in all the world's electrical grids combined" — to try and produce electrons out of the quantum ether by separating them from their antimatter twins.
For now it appears we're going to have to trust that scientists know what they're doing with the fabric of reality.
Reader Comments
I KNOW - as most here do - that if I struck up conversation with a group of 'normal Americans'; and posited even one of my lesser theories; they would knee-jerk label me as a paranoid nut. It wasn't as bad in my youth; people were far more open minded and less doctrinaire.
SOTT seems to be one of the last places where you'll ever hear a well discussed point labeled 'paranoiid.' Rather, folks might disagree, but the 'you're a paranoid nut' is NOT for this place, as Ennio makes clear.
NRN
R.C.
I wonder if you guys over the pond read replies with a different attitude to us ? Please let me know if you have experience on such...
As far as the playlist goes....
Green day - nothing needs to be said
Mott - I listened to about half the album, work commitments slowed me some so wasn’t able to listen to the whole album but, I enjoyed some of it, a couple tunes didn’t really get me going. A vast difference between today’s and yesterday’s tunes. I can appreciate the music though.
Stones - again, nowt needs to be written
I hope all is well over there, can I ask, are you a Floridian?
R.C.
RC
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*I LOVE GREENDAY!
RC
R.C.