Directed Energy: Low Intensity Applications

[RICKYtan]

Mostly used for weapons, can sources of directed energy be contained at low intensities? In theory, could it be set to specific wavelengths, frequencies, intensities or whatever to say remove particles of lower cohesiveness from other surfaces or materials?

 

[Drakkith]

You mean can we illuminate a surface with a low intensity beam of radiation to remove something like a coating from it?

 

[RICKYtan]

You mean can we illuminate a surface with a low intensity beam of radiation to remove something like a coating from it?

essentially yeah...but do all forms of radiation illuminate a surface? Unless you just mean to direct a a low intensity of energy

 

[Drakkith]

Sorry, by "illuminate" I simply meant that you direct a beam of radiation at a surface, not that you "light it up" like you do with a flashlight or laser. Also, note that energy isn't a substance or an object. You cannot emit energy by itself. It has to be carried by something like a particle or by light.

To answer your question, you can certainly direct radiation onto a surface, but the outcome depends on the surface, the type of radiation, and your overall goal.

 

[anorlunda]

Mostly used for weapons, can sources of directed energy be contained at low intensities? In theory, could it be set to specific wavelengths, frequencies, intensities or whatever to say remove particles of lower cohesiveness from other surfaces or materials?

The scenario that you are asking about sounds very much like medical used of lasers. For example tooth whitening, hair removal, oder cancer treatment . Illuminating parts of the body while shielding others is the essence of the methods.

 

[ZapperZ]

Mostly used for weapons, can sources of directed energy be contained at low intensities? In theory, could it be set to specific wavelengths, frequencies, intensities or whatever to say remove particles of lower cohesiveness from other surfaces or materials?

I don't understand this question. We already have "low intensity" radiation. Almost everything we have NOW is considered to be low intensity. It is why the military is looking into FELs to generate these "directed energy", to BOOST the intensity of radiation produced.

Zz.

 

[RICKYtan]

I don't understand this question. We already have "low intensity" radiation. Almost everything we have NOW is considered to be low intensity. It is why the military is looking into FELs to generate these "directed energy", to BOOST the intensity of radiation produced.

Zz.

what em waves, other than visible light,
heat/evaporate water?

 

[anorlunda]

what em waves, other than visible light,
heat/evaporate water?

A microwave oven.

 

[mfb]

what em waves, other than visible light,
heat/evaporate water?

All, if they have sufficient power.
Microwaves are convenient for heating food because they get in deep enough to heat the whole food while being easy to produce, but that is an application-specific consideration.

 

[ZapperZ]

what em waves, other than visible light,
heat/evaporate water?

I used to work with 5 eV UV that can burn your skin. Heating and evaporating water is nothing!

You still have not bothered to clarify the issue that I brought up.

Zz.

 

[electro-physics]

could it be set to specific wavelengths, frequencies, intensities or whatever to say remove particles of lower cohesiveness from other surfaces or materials?

There are some advanced methods that incorporate laser beams to remove potting from printed circuit boards.

 

[Drakkith]

There are some advanced methods that incorporate laser beams to remove potting from printed circuit boards.

Not to mention the photolithography used to create the chips for the circuit boards in the first place.

 

[RICKYtan]

I used to work with 5 eV UV that can burn your skin. Heating and evaporating water is nothing!

You still have not bothered to clarify the issue that I brought up.

Zz.

What does 5 eV UV mean??

 

[mfb]

UV light where the photons have an energy of 5 eV, corresponding to a wavelength of 250 nm.