Can Light Shift Beyond Detection Due to Particle Absorption?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether light can be shifted into a frequency that is undetectable due to particle absorption, exploring the implications of red and blue shifts across the electromagnetic spectrum. Participants consider the visibility of electromagnetic waves and the conditions under which they may become undetectable.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that light can be red or blue shifted out of the visible spectrum, potentially making it undetectable.
  • Others argue that while electromagnetic waves can be shifted, they remain EM waves regardless of their wavelength.
  • One participant suggests that there is always a small chance for an object to absorb part of the energy of any wavelength, implying that no frequency is completely undetectable.
  • Another point raised is that detection becomes increasingly difficult due to power loss over long distances, affecting the signal-to-noise ratio.
  • Different techniques may be necessary for detecting various frequencies, which could influence their detectability.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the detectability of electromagnetic waves, with no consensus reached on whether any frequency can be considered completely undetectable.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of the topic, including factors such as the distance light travels and the techniques used for detection, which may affect the discussion's conclusions.

Emissive
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Particles emit and absorb light of certain quanta and various factors can then red or blue shift this energy. Does this mean light sometimes gets shifted into a frequency which is unable to be absorbed by any particle and therefore can longer be 'seen'? (At least until it is shifted further...)
 
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It certainly is possible to red or blue shift light out of the visible spectrum.
 
Of course. Although I am thinking about all em waves...
 
So you really want to know if there are EM waves that can't be blocked?
 
Emissive said:
Of course. Although I am thinking about all em waves...
Well if you are not specifically interested in the visible portion of the spectrum then a red shifted EM wave is still an EM wave. You cannot red or blue shift so much that it ceases to be an EM wave of some wavelength.
 
Emissive said:
Particles emit and absorb light of certain quanta and various factors can then red or blue shift this energy. Does this mean light sometimes gets shifted into a frequency which is unable to be absorbed by any particle and therefore can longer be 'seen'? (At least until it is shifted further...)

To my knowledge, no matter how long the wavelength there is still a small chance for an object to absorb a small part of its energy.
 
There is no frequency of EM that is undetectable. However, the power loss on long paths (for red shift to be relevant) will mean that detection gets increasingly difficult because the signal to noise ratio gets progressively worse.
Different techniques are necessary / available for different frequencies and this may be relevant to detectability.
 

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