Bending light with temperature gradients

In summary, the apparatus is composed of 2 concentric hollow cylinders, with the inner cylinder cooled below -50C and the outer cylinder at room temperature. This creates a temperature gradient that causes the index of refraction to increase as distance from the center cylinder decreases. It is unlikely that a laser pointed into a transparent spot on the outer cylinder could be refracted to orbit the inner cylinder due to attenuation of the beam.
  • #1
Samson4
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A quick question about this type of apparatus. The apparatus itself is composed of 2 concentric hollow cylinders. The cylinder at center is cooled below -50C. The atmosphere around the outer cylinder is at room temperature. This creates a temperature gradient in the space between the cylinders. The index of refraction increases as distance from the center cylinder decreases.

Question: If a laser is pointed into a perfectly transparent spot on the outer cylinder, could the laser beam be refracted to orbit the inner cylinder given the space is large enough for such a small change in refractive index
bending light with air.png
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I suspect that by the time you have refracted the beam enough to get a circle, you've attenuated the beam into irrelevance.
 
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1. How does temperature affect the bending of light?

Temperature can create a temperature gradient in a medium, which causes a change in the refractive index of the medium. This change in refractive index leads to a bending of light, known as refraction.

2. Can temperature gradients be used to control the direction of light?

Yes, by creating a temperature gradient in a medium, the direction of light can be controlled as it passes through the medium. This is known as thermal lensing and has applications in devices such as lasers and optical switches.

3. How does the rate of temperature change affect the bending of light?

The rate of temperature change, or temperature gradient, can have a significant impact on the bending of light. A steeper temperature gradient will result in a larger change in refractive index and therefore a greater bending of light.

4. Are there any practical applications for bending light with temperature gradients?

Yes, there are many practical applications such as optical fiber temperature sensors, thermal imaging cameras, and even in nature, where some animals use temperature gradients to focus light in their eyes.

5. Can temperature gradients be used to manipulate the speed of light?

Yes, the speed of light is affected by the refractive index of the medium it is passing through. By changing the temperature and creating a temperature gradient, the refractive index can be altered, thus changing the speed of light.

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