Is it possible to use air as a medium to display images?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the feasibility of using air as a medium for displaying images, touching on concepts such as holography, gas excitation, and potential technologies for image projection. Participants consider both theoretical and practical aspects of this idea.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that while holographs exist, the challenge lies in understanding energy levels and the excitation of gases like xenon, oxygen, and nitrogen.
  • Another participant notes that in auroras, nitrogen and oxygen atoms are excited by solar particles, raising questions about replicating this phenomenon without advanced technology.
  • There is a query about the strength of the Earth's magnetic field and the energy from solar flares, with a focus on whether these energies are sufficient for practical applications.
  • A participant compares the concept to colored neon signs, suggesting that they operate on similar principles but may lack control over the output.
  • Concerns are raised about the limitations of using non-normal gases and the defined shapes of existing technologies, questioning the dimensionality of holograms.
  • One idea proposes combining acoustics with projection to potentially manipulate air density and scatter light for image display.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of ideas and hypotheses, with no consensus reached on the feasibility or methods for using air as a medium for image display. Multiple competing views and uncertainties remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations related to the types of gases, the need for specific conditions for excitation, and the challenges of controlling light output in a three-dimensional space.

GreenAce92
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Yes holographs but not really

So... I guess what I'm trying to get around is energy levels

I will admit that my understanding is vague

I believe I understand that certain gases are easier to excite (to give off light when going back down) like xenon but what about the general atmospher eg. oxygen, nitrogen

I thought about using magnetic fields and then projecting an inverse image

If a screen uses Red Green Blue then in theory couldn't I create a screen from the air using this principle ?

I thought that if I could excite the air so that the air is ready to give off light, couldn't I control what light is given off by beaming a certain anti-light so if I wanted red, I would beam everything else but red 900nm or something

I just wonder if holograms are not good if they need to lasers and special gases perhaps enclosed in a container or mirrors...
 
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Interesting idea. In the aurorae borialis and australis the nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the air get excited by particles coming from the sun. They are guided to the polar regions by the Earth's magnetic field.
 
Is that sort of event replicable without any crazy technology?

I mean, marketable anyway

The Earth's magnetic field isn't very strong right? What about the energy from the sun? The solar flares? Is that a lot? MeV's or something?
 
GreenAce92 said:
Is that sort of event replicable without any crazy technology?

I mean, marketable anyway ...
a shop coloured neon sign is basically the same principal.Dave
 
Isn't that using non-normal gas?

That's a defined shape too

No control

It's like, screens are 2dimensional so the format of the holgram ought to follow a similar suite though I suppose you might as well take advantage of the extra dimension. Now pages can truly appear to be stacked.
 
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What if you were to combine acoustics with projection? Might there be a way to compress the air using acoustics waves enough to reflect to scatter projected light?
 

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