MIT Material 10x Blacker Than Any Other: 99.995% Light Absorption

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a newly developed material by MIT that reportedly absorbs 99.995% of incoming light, raising questions about its electromagnetic (EM) re-radiation properties. Participants explore the implications of this high absorption rate across different wavelengths, particularly in the context of thermal radiation and energy conservation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the material captures at least 99.995% of incoming light, suggesting minimal EM re-radiation.
  • Others argue that this claim needs qualification, indicating that while absorption is high for certain wavelengths, infrared (IR) radiation may still occur.
  • A participant mentions that all absorbed energy must be accounted for, implying that it cannot lead to infinite energy accumulation.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential misleading nature of the MIT statement regarding the material's properties.
  • One participant notes that significant thermal wavelengths would only be emitted when the material gets sufficiently hot.
  • Another participant references Kirchhoff's law, suggesting that the material would not emit much in the visible range regardless.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of the material's light absorption capabilities, particularly regarding EM re-radiation. There is no consensus on the extent to which the material emits radiation across different wavelengths.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the need for qualifications regarding the absorption claims, particularly concerning the wavelengths involved and the conditions under which thermal radiation occurs. The discussion reflects uncertainty about the material's behavior under various thermal conditions.

gmalcolm77
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Summary: MIT researchers have created a material that is 10x blacker than any other material ever recorded. The foil captures at least 99.995% of incoming light.

Does this mean that there is practically no EM re-radiated?
 
Science news on Phys.org
For a certain range of wavelengths: yes !
 
gmalcolm77 said:
The foil captures at least 99.995% of incoming light.

Does this mean that there is practically no EM re-radiated?

those statements need to be qualified.
As @BvU said, "for certain wavelengths, yes"
There's probably still lots of IR being radiated and that is still EM
All that energy being absorbed has to go somewhere
 
davenn said:
those statements need to be qualified.
As @BvU said, "for certain wavelengths, yes"
There's probably still lots of IR being radiated and that is still EM
All that energy being absorbed has to go somewhere
Yea, I figured so, otherwise it's energy would eventually be infinite. The MIT quote I believe is a bit misleading. Thanks.
 
gmalcolm77 said:
Yea, I figured so, otherwise it's energy would eventually be infinite. The MIT quote I believe is a bit misleading. Thanks.
I'm not sure why you aren't responding to my PM requesting that you post a link to a source to help us out, but I did the Google search and here is one such link:

http://news.mit.edu/2019/blackest-black-material-cnt-0913
 
berkeman said:
I'm not sure why you aren't responding to my PM requesting that you post a link to a source to help us out, but I did the Google search and here is one such link:

Haven't figured that out yet. Just a dumb old guy interested in science. Please forgive.
 
No worries. I only had asked in my private message to you that you post a link in your thread so everybody didn't have to go off searching on their own trying to find the original paper so that they could respond well. I did the search now and posted the link, so all is good. :smile:
 
gmalcolm77 said:
Summary: MIT researchers have created a material that is 10x blacker than any other material ever recorded. The foil captures at least 99.995% of incoming light.

Does this mean that there is practically no EM re-radiated?
It really means that practically none is reflected. But it would need to get pretty hot before significant levels of thermal wavelengths would be emitted in the visible range.
 
sophiecentaur said:
It really means that practically none is reflected. But it would need to get pretty hot before significant levels of thermal wavelengths would be emitted in the visible range.
By Kirchhoff's law, it won't emit much in the visible range in any case.
 
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