Light Resonance: Conceptual Question for Physicists

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of light resonance, particularly in the context of amplifying light waves and the implications of resonance on multiple wavelengths. Participants explore the relationship between resonance, amplitude, intensity, and the nature of light, including the photoelectric effect and supercontinuum lasers.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes resonance as the creation of standing waves between two mirrors, suggesting that at a specific frequency, amplitude and intensity increase.
  • Another participant notes the necessity of a light source with the appropriate frequency for amplitude increase.
  • A participant questions whether it is possible to amplify multiple wavelengths simultaneously, using sunlight as an example, and inquires about the implications of increasing amplitude without increasing photon count.
  • One participant raises the photoelectric effect, suggesting it intensifies light by increasing photon numbers, and questions why resonance and the photoelectric effect seem to yield light of only one wavelength.
  • A later reply introduces the concept of a supercontinuum laser as a potential solution to the question of amplifying multiple wavelengths.
  • Another participant seeks clarification on how a supercontinuum laser can produce a broad range of wavelengths, referencing the nonlinear processes involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between resonance, amplitude, and photon count, and whether multiple wavelengths can be amplified simultaneously. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the interplay between these concepts.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the understanding of how resonance interacts with multiple wavelengths and the conditions under which amplitude can be increased without altering photon count. The discussion also touches on the complexities of supercontinuum generation without fully resolving these aspects.

dillmon
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Hello Physicists,
I don't have an actual math problem, just a conceptual one.
I was wondering specifically about light resonance.

If I understand resonance correctly, if one has two mirrors directly facing each other, one can create a standing wave. At a certain frequency of the light wave (the resonance frequency) the amplitude increases, and the intensity will increase.

Did everything I just state here sound correct to you guys?
 
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You must have a source of light (with the right frequency) in order for the amplitude to increase.
 
I guess my real question is
Can you amplify multiple wavelengths?

For example, say sunlight is flowing through a fiber optic cable.

Sunlight has a multitude of wavelengths. Could you in theory, increase the amplitude of all of those wavelengths equally? Also, what happens to the light once its its amplitude is increased?

Since light has photons which determine its intensity, and you can't increase the number of photons through resonance, (can you?) what happens to the nature of light when its amplitude is increased but the number of photons remain the same?

Thank you for you time
 
will photoelectric effect do any good here..??
 
I know that the photoelectric effect will essentially intensify the light by increasing the amount of photons, and I know that resonance will increase the amplitude of the light wave, but my question is, why can't you do both. Why is it that both methods produce a light that has only one wavelength?
 
@dillmon
What you are asking is basically a supercontinuum laser.
 
ProTerran said:
@dillmon
What you are asking is basically a supercontinuum laser.

I'm not sure I understand completely. The article says that

"a supercontinuum is formed when a collection of nonlinear processes act together upon a pump beam in order to cause severe spectral broadening of the original pump beam.'

Does this mean that a super continuum laser can produce a broad range of wavelengths?, How exactly, in laymen's terms would this be possible?
 

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