Monday, December 21, 2009

Thought Experiment

I've been carrying this idea around in my little brain for roughly 25 years.  Hopefully a particle physicist will visit this blog and answer my questions.  Of course this idea is not limited to thought alone.  If anyone would like to execute it, let me know; just don't be a thief. :-)

Suppose you have a hollow sphere, the inside surface of which is mirrored. Let's assume a vacuum exists inside as well. Then, introduce a light source inside which is held aloft by way of magnetic levitation and powered by battery.

What would be the result of this light being focused from every direction and re-reflected ad infinitum without being able to escape?

What if the light source had a two-way mirrored outer surface allowing light to emit but not re-enter? (Realizing that a two-way mirror is leaky by its very nature.)

What if the sphere itself had a two-way mirrored surface allowing an observer to see what was happening?

Introduce a "pill camera" inside, also held aloft and guided by maglev.

Suppose only a short burst of light were used; Would that light ever stop?

What if the sphere were very large? 1 parsec maybe.

Copyright 2009 Phreemynd All Rights Reserved

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