Is a photonic-boom possible?

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In summary: It is impractical to create a light shockwave using this method, as it is more efficient to simply accelerate a projectile and let it run into the planet.
  • #1
matthewfullhart
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is a "photonic-boom" possible?

ok, so I'm sitting in class one day, and my physics teacher is talking about light... and since we had just finished up a section on sound, I was wondering whether there is such an effect as a "light-boom"

that is to say, if we were to have a spaceship that could go exactly at the speed of light, and we attached a flashlight to the front of the ship, could we not cause the buildup of light rays much the same as we can with sound and airplanes? if so, couldn't we make a gigantic weapon with this? let's say that there's life on a planet near alpha centauri, and we go to war with them... couldn't we just send out a ship with a big flashlight on the front, cause the buildup of light particles over the span of 4.3 years, and then decelerate just before hitting the planet? 4.3 years of light would definitely do some amount of damage to their planet, even if it's just blinding everyone on the surface...

I asked my teacher this, and he said something to the effect of "no, because of time dialation." I realize his point, but that makes me wonder how the red shift works, if this effect doesn't...

If anyone knows why this can/can't occur, could you please tell me? it's been bugging me.
 
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  • #2
could we not cause the buildup of light rays much the same as we can with sound and airplanes?
A "buildup" relative to what? In any case, the speed of light relative to any reference is the speed of light. If you were standing on the bridge of such a spaceship (I'm going to assume moving at 99.9% the speed of light relative to a given planet. If you say "moving at the speed of light" you are rejecting relativity and there is no way to answer your question.) you would see the light rays moving away from you at speed c. If you were standing on that planet watching the ship go by, you would see the light rays moving away from it at speed c. No buildup.
 
  • #3
the electromagnetic analogue of the sonic boom does indeed occur. it is called Čerenkov radiation.
 
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  • #4
It's impractical (but possible) to create a light shockwave. There are several different methods for doing this.

The method you describe is a bit silly because it would be easier, more efficient, and more damaging to simply accelerate a projectile and let it run into the planet.

Shining a light forward, is inefficient because light loses intensity with the distance cubed, so it's better to keep the projectile solid so that all of the energy in the projectile can be used.
 
  • #5
There is a phenomenom called Cerenekov radiation, which is caused by particles entering a medium, traveling faster than the speed of light of the medium. The result is a radiation pattern similar to supersonic shock waves.
 

1. Can light create a sonic boom?

Yes, it is possible for light to create a sonic boom, also known as a photonic boom. This occurs when a sudden burst of light creates a shockwave that travels faster than the speed of sound.

2. What materials are needed for a photonic boom to occur?

In order for a photonic boom to occur, a high-energy laser or other intense light source is needed. Additionally, a medium such as air or water is necessary for the shockwave to travel through.

3. How does a photonic boom differ from a sonic boom?

A photonic boom is similar to a sonic boom in that both involve the creation of a shockwave. However, a photonic boom is caused by light rather than sound, and the shockwave travels faster than the speed of sound.

4. Is a photonic boom harmful to living beings?

Yes, a photonic boom can be harmful to living beings if they are exposed to the intense light and shockwave. It is important to take proper safety measures when conducting experiments involving photonic booms.

5. Are there any practical applications for photonic booms?

Yes, there are potential applications for photonic booms in fields such as propulsion, materials processing, and medical imaging. However, more research is needed to fully understand and harness their potential.

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