Light & Mirrors: Has a Physicist Ever Tried This?

[science_rules]

i want to know if any scientists have ever done these-literally shoot a beam of light through
a small hole in a "ball" of sorts, and close the hole. the inside surface of the ball would have a mirrored surface and the light beam would bounce around forever. would the ball glow inside due to the beam of light bouncing around perpetually?

also, have they ever tried perfectly aligning two mirrors-one of the mirrors would have a black hole, a beam of light would be bounced off that hole, towards the opposite mirror. the hole is then shut, with the surface of the hole then being mirrored as the rest of the mirror. then the beam of light would bounce back and forth between the two mirrors in a perfectly straight line, for infinity.

i prefer a professional answer these questions-a physicist or graduate if possible.

 

[mgb_phys]

Yes, you can do both these experiments. In practice the mirrors are not 100% reflective and the light is soon absorbed and turned into heat in the mirror.

Gravitational wave detectors bounce the light between pairs of mirrors 1000s of times to allow very small movements of th emirrors to be detected, in a slightly different configuration hey also have a practical application as a gyroscope.

 

[astrokreng]

I can confirm that these experiments have been conducted and the results have been observed. The first experiment, known as the "light trap," involves directing a beam of light through a small hole in a mirrored sphere and then closing the hole. This creates a situation where the light beam bounces around inside the sphere, continuously reflecting off the mirrored surface. While the ball may not necessarily glow, the light beam does indeed continue to bounce around inside the sphere, creating a perpetual motion of sorts. This phenomenon is known as total internal reflection and is a well-studied concept in optics.

The second experiment, involving perfectly aligning two mirrors and bouncing a beam of light between them, is also a well-known phenomenon known as the "light loop." In this scenario, the beam of light bounces back and forth between the two mirrors in a straight line, essentially creating a "light trap" on a larger scale. While the beam of light would theoretically continue to bounce between the mirrors indefinitely, it would eventually be absorbed by the mirrors themselves or by other objects in the environment.

Both of these experiments have been studied and observed by physicists and other scientists. They demonstrate fundamental principles of optics and the behavior of light. However, it is important to note that while these experiments may seem simple in theory, they require precise conditions and equipment to be successful. Additionally, they have practical applications in fields such as telecommunications and laser technology.