Capturing Light Leaving Its Source: Is it Possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of capturing light as it leaves its source using high-speed cameras. Participants explore the implications of light detection, the mechanics of cameras, and the potential for visualizing light pulses under specific conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether it is possible to film light leaving a source with a high-speed camera.
  • Another argues that light is only detected when it hits a detector, suggesting that speed is irrelevant to capturing light itself.
  • A participant clarifies that a camera functions as a detector for light, emphasizing the necessity of light reaching the detector to be captured.
  • There is a discussion about the speed of the camera's shutter and its relevance to capturing light, with some suggesting that the shutter must be activated by a light sensor.
  • One participant speculates that it might be possible to see a pulse of laser light if it is scattered off dust, but expresses uncertainty about what could be observed.
  • Another participant mentions that a long shutter time could potentially capture light over vast distances, referencing an example where a shutter time of weeks could yield a sharp image.
  • There is a consideration of the scale of distances involved when observing light from far away sources, suggesting that large distances may not be significant on certain scales.
  • A participant reflects on their initial thoughts about capturing a sphere of light from a light bulb and acknowledges the need for specific conditions to visualize it effectively.
  • One participant concludes that they need to adjust their expectations regarding the visualization of light traveling.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the possibility of capturing light as it leaves its source, with some asserting that it is not feasible while others propose specific conditions under which it might be observable. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the practical implications of these ideas.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations related to the assumptions about light detection, the mechanics of cameras, and the conditions necessary for observing light pulses. The discussion does not resolve the complexities involved in capturing light in motion.

ABHoT
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Will it ever be possible to use a high enough speed 'camera' to film light leaving a source?
 
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No, because light is only detected when it actually hits a detector. Speed is irrelevant.
 
What else than light, is a camera filming ?

Actually a camera IS a detector for light. :wink:
 
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Do you mean high enough speed as in the "speed" of a camera? That is, how quickly the picture taking action is?

And actually yah, as russ said, it's irrelevant, the light has to hit the detector/film before it can be detected.
 
I believe you may be able to see a pulse if the laser light is directed away from you and is scattered off dust...but I'm not sure what you'd see since the laser would move as much forward as the scattered light moved towards you at the same time. My guess is that you can't make a shutter move fast enough to resolve anything like this (even at 10,000fps, the light pulse would move 30km between each frame).
 
So don't use a shutter... Or perhaps more to the point: what activates the shutter - a light sensor...?
 
Matterwave said:
I believe you may be able to see a pulse if the laser light is directed away from you and is scattered off dust...but I'm not sure what you'd see
See http://128.183.240.121/apod/ap060125.html".
Here, a shutter time of some weeks would be enough for a sharp picture. Size does matter.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yes, since they are very very far away and produce very large shockwaves, we can see this using slow shutter speed since even though the light has moved millions of km in the time between pictures, millions of km on that scale isn't too large. I thought the OP wanted to see something like a laser shooting out of a laser pointer though...
 
Thanks. I was originally thinking of a sphere of light leaving a light bulb. I guess if it was dark and the air was full of dust and you could get that many frames. :\
I understand a bit better now.
 
  • #10
I think I need to drop the seeing is believing when it comes to light and stop imagining filming it traveling for it to still be so.
 

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