Behold, the Station of Extreme Light !
Every so often, poor translation gets turned on its head...
Originally shared by Eli Fennell
Physicists Building Lasers To 'Rip Apart' Empty Space
People tend to think of the vacuum of space as emptiness, but this is not correct. In fact, according to Quantum Electrodynamics, 'empty' space is constantly giving rise to pairs of electrons and positrons, which are the matter and antimatter forms of the same particles.
Due to mutual attraction, these pairs quickly annihilate and cannot be isolated. A new type of laser under development in China, however, may be able to prevent this annihilation. Known as the 'Station of Extreme Light', it will emit extremely short, powerful laser bursts which, in theory, should be able to overcome the electron-positron attractions. The laser would also disturb the particles into emitting electromagnetic waves, especially gamma waves.
These gamma wave photons should then have the power to excite atomic nuclei, opening the door to a new branch of particle physics called 'nuclear photonics'.
Or, conversely, firing these lasers may create the Cloverfield Paradox, thereby shattering spacetime across the multiverse and unleashing aliens, demons, and beasts from the sea into our world.
You know, one or the other of those possibilities. Should be interesting, either way!
#BlindMeWithScience #StationofExtremeLight #Physics
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/01/physicists-are-planning-build-lasers-so-powerful-they-could-rip-apart-empty-space
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