Posted on 05/19/2014 3:08:29 AM PDT by markomalley
Imperial College London physicists have discovered how to create matter from light - a feat thought impossible when the idea was first theorised 80 years ago.
In just one day over several cups of coffee in a tiny office in Imperial's Blackett Physics Laboratory, three physicists worked out a relatively simple way to physically prove a theory first devised by scientists Breit and Wheeler in 1934.
Breit and Wheeler suggested that it should be possible to turn light into matter by smashing together only two particles of light (photons), to create an electron and a positron – the simplest method of turning light into matter ever predicted. The calculation was found to be theoretically sound but Breit and Wheeler said that they never expected anybody to physically demonstrate their prediction. It has never been observed in the laboratory and past experiments to test it have required the addition of massive high-energy particles.
The new research, published in Nature Photonics, shows for the first time how Breit and Wheeler's theory could be proven in practice. This 'photon-photon collider', which would convert light directly into matter using technology that is already available, would be a new type of high-energy physics experiment. This experiment would recreate a process that was important in the first 100 seconds of the universe and that is also seen in gamma ray bursts, which are the biggest explosions in the universe and one of physics' greatest unsolved mysteries.
The scientists had been investigating unrelated problems in fusion energy when they realised what they were working on could be applied to the Breit-Wheeler theory. The breakthrough was achieved in collaboration with a fellow theoretical physicist from the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, who happened to be visiting Imperial.
Demonstrating the Breit-Wheeler theory would provide the final jigsaw piece of a physics puzzle which describes the simplest ways in which light and matter interact (see image in notes to editors). The six other pieces in that puzzle, including Dirac's 1930 theory on the annihilation of electrons and positrons and Einstein's 1905 theory on the photoelectric effect, are all associated with Nobel Prize-winning research (see image).
Professor Steve Rose from the Department of Physics at Imperial College London said: "Despite all physicists accepting the theory to be true, when Breit and Wheeler first proposed the theory, they said that they never expected it be shown in the laboratory. Today, nearly 80 years later, we prove them wrong. What was so surprising to us was the discovery of how we can create matter directly from light using the technology that we have today in the UK. As we are theorists we are now talking to others who can use our ideas to undertake this landmark experiment."
The collider experiment that the scientists have proposed involves two key steps. First, the scientists would use an extremely powerful high-intensity laser to speed up electrons to just below the speed of light. They would then fire these electrons into a slab of gold to create a beam of photons a billion times more energetic than visible light.
The next stage of the experiment involves a tiny gold can called a hohlraum (German for 'empty room'). Scientists would fire a high-energy laser at the inner surface of this gold can, to create a thermal radiation field, generating light similar to the light emitted by stars.
They would then direct the photon beam from the first stage of the experiment through the centre of the can, causing the photons from the two sources to collide and form electrons and positrons. It would then be possible to detect the formation of the electrons and positrons when they exited the can.
Lead researcher Oliver Pike who is currently completing his PhD in plasma physics, said: "Although the theory is conceptually simple, it has been very difficult to verify experimentally. We were able to develop the idea for the collider very quickly, but the experimental design we propose can be carried out with relative ease and with existing technology. Within a few hours of looking for applications of hohlraums outside their traditional role in fusion energy research, we were astonished to find they provided the perfect conditions for creating a photon collider. The race to carry out and complete the experiment is on!"
I’m going to try this in my bathroom before work this am. Will let you know how much energy I produce.
“I’m going to try this in my bathroom before work this am. Will let you know how much energy I produce.”
Yeah, the last moron that tried this experiment setup a chain reaction through all of the photons in his universe, imploded it, and created the Big Bang explosion that resulted in a new universe populated by some ceatures describing themselves as humans. Do you really want to risk that again?
By passing your golden stream into the can?
At this point what does it matter?
hehehee
Funniest people in the universe on FR.
This weekend I turned Coors Light - which comes from streams in Golden, CO - into the matter of a golden stream.
In doing so, I believe I did not violate the law of conservation of matter. However, while doing so, I engaged in many conservations that didn't matter.
"Despite all physicists accepting the theory to be true, when Breit and Wheeler first proposed the theory, they said that they never expected it be shown in the laboratory. Today, nearly 80 years later, we prove them wrong. What was so surprising to us was the discovery of how we can create matter directly from light using the technology that we have today in the UK. As we are theorists we are now talking to others who can use our ideas to undertake this landmark experiment."
All this based on some scribbled equations on the back of a napkin at some nondescript coffee shop. How can anyone take science seriously when these types of claims are published?
I agree, except I would speculate that the error is with the reporter, not with the scientists. What they have is a "Proposed Experiment", not a "Discovery".
It's sort of like Archimedes, with his shouts of "Eureka!", while running naked through the streets of Syracuse, after "discovering" how to measure volume of an object while entering his bath tub. His theory ultimately proved correct, but his timing was premature.
The science is settled. The debate is over.
Bttt
Another dumb article with a lying headline.
They have not “discovered” how to create matter from light.
They have come up with a theory. They plan to do an experiment.
My prediction: they will try an experiment. They will announce to the world that they have created matter from light, and the papers will all start crowing about “finding out the secrets of the universe.”
6 months later a small article in a learned science journal will inform us that the conclusion is unwarranted. There will be nothing in the papers.
Oh great. Now I have to wash the bugs off of my windshield and the matter deposited by oncoming headlights.
I give you a triple A+ for creativity for coming up with this one!
Kudos!
I caught that, too.
Science holds far too many theories as fact when they have never been proven. Jumping to conclusions will eventually lead you so far from the truth that you will cease to recognize it.
But boring old truth doesn’t get you research grants like sexy theories that require lots of gold and high-powered lasers to test.
Misleading headline.
The Last Question by Isaac Asimov
http://www.multivax.com/last_question.html
When the President of the United States stands in front of Cameras and proclaims climate Change/Globull Warming as settled science based on politics and huge donations from Green Business interests I can understand why others make wild assed claims after doodling on a napkin.
Not seeing much cereal here.
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