high intensity strobe light in water

[strongmind]

What happens if I shine a xenon strobe light into water which is contained in a silvered glass or flask to magnify the effect from repeated reflections.
What happens to the water from the high intensity pulses from the strobe light?

 

[sojourner]

It lights up? briefly with each flash?

 

[Jadzia]

What inspired this thought experiment? Are you thinking it might create a population inversion for lasing? Or might energise the atoms at the focal point enough to create some kind of nuclear fusion reaction? Or sterilize the water because of the UV content in the xenon light, or something else?

 

[Alpha_Geek]

The light lasts for as long as the strobe is energized. Sure it'll reflect off the sides of your container, but the water isn't a perfect conductor of light and your surface will not be a perfect reflector. Energy will be lost at east pass or bounce, and all this happens so fast that it'll be nigh unto instantaneous.

The water will slowly warm up with repeated flashes.

There are far more efficient ways of heating water though.

 

[strongmind]

What inspired this thought experiment? Are you thinking it might create a population inversion for lasing? Or might energise the atoms at the focal point enough to create some kind of nuclear fusion reaction? Or sterilize the water because of the UV content in the xenon light, or something else?

I heard high intensity light pulses in water will sterilize it and also cause dissociation and possible ion generation.

It may also provide health benefits if drunk.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Dunno if a strobe is the best tool for the job you're outlining if you're thinking about large batches or for industrial & municipal use. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_germicidal_irradiation

According to that, UVc is the right light for the job.

Also see:
http://members.misty.com/don/xesafe.html

Pay particular attention to the safety stuff. While UV will sterilize water, it can also do a pretty good job of screwing up your eyes on a permanant basis. Safety first!


Health benefits? As compared to what... putrid water? Gotta know what the control group is or the experiment is invalid!

 

[Jadzia]

I heard high intensity light pulses in water will sterilize it and also cause dissociation and possible ion generation.

It may also provide health benefits if drunk.

Water is an ionic solvent. Most of the metal salts in potable water are already dissociated in solution. With the exception of some calcium and magnesium compounds which will exist as fine sediment helping to make the water appear cloudy (along with fine grains of sand).

Your stomach acid will liberate ions from these insoluble compounds, not that most people are short of them anyway if they eat their vegetables.

So I'd be surprised if flashing a light in it would improve the water anything beyond some degree of sterilization.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

As Medusa says, sterile ain't always potable.

 

[strongmind]

I heard high intensity light pulses in water will sterilize it and also cause dissociation and possible ion generation.

It may also provide health benefits if drunk.

Water is an ionic solvent. Most of the metal salts in potable water are already dissociated in solution. With the exception of some calcium and magnesium compounds which will exist as fine sediment helping to make the water appear cloudy (along with fine grains of sand).

Your stomach acid will liberate ions from these insoluble compounds, not that most people are short of them anyway if they eat their vegetables.

So I'd be surprised if flashing a light in it would improve the water anything beyond some degree of sterilization.

Google has loads of info about sterilization and possible health benefits.I was hoping you might have personal experience of this.I hear it can reverse cancer and swine flu.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Sterile water reversing cancer and swine flu? No doubt this information was in close proximity to information about reflexology, iridology, and feng-shui.

 

[splodenode]

its getting to be too cold for a pool party

 

[strongmind]

Sterile water reversing cancer and swine flu? No doubt this information was in close proximity to information about reflexology, iridology, and feng-shui.

Actually no.Japanese scientists say it can generate electrolyse water which has ions which fight cancer and pathogens.It is a research paper.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Rrrr? Electrolysis in the case of water is to tear the water molecules into the base elements that compose it, namely hydrogen and oxygen.

There would be far more efficient ways to oxygenate or hydrogenate water if there was any medicinal benefit to it.

Here:

http://www.wikihow.com/Electrolyse-Water

I'd love to see where your data is coming from. Cite some links, please.