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View Full Version : Researchers invent antenna for light


kg4kww
09-18-2004, 03:47 AM
This things sounds like something out of Star trek

Researchers invent antenna for light (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/09/17/light.antenna.reut/index.html)

W5MEJ
09-18-2004, 04:09 AM
Cool. #Where can i get some of those tiny carbon nanotubes?

Better yet, where can i get that paperwork to put in for a government grant to study this?

"DC to Daylight"
Chuck

K4JSR
09-18-2004, 03:14 PM
Quick! Set up a poll! I think we should "photon" it!!!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif


73, Cal K4JSR http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

k6pme
09-18-2004, 04:42 PM
Hey, I like the part of making solar energy more efficient but me thinks that TV's are good enough now. Can they get any better?

KB1GYQ
09-18-2004, 04:47 PM
Quote[/b] (KG6QQL @ Sep. 18 2004,12:42)]... but me thinks that TV's are good enough now. Can they get any better?
I find a 120db attenuator really helps improve the intellectual level.

K7KBN
09-18-2004, 05:09 PM
Whut's the SWRS on them nannietube antennys, come back.

kg4kww
09-19-2004, 02:03 AM
good question. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Open another beer ma

ai4ep
09-19-2004, 02:20 AM
nah never mind....back to the bible

N0KLT
09-19-2004, 04:19 AM
I already own a couple of light collecting antennas, esp solar light. They are self locating and self positioning also. They both get real grumpy when you move them while they are taking their daily solar baths, esp the older one. They are my 2 house cats, the most efficient solar energy storing devices known to the world http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

73

Gary NØKLT

kg6saj
09-19-2004, 07:57 AM
Could this explain why the SETI group isn't hearing anything but cosmic noise?

Those boobs are using radios! #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

K8ERV
09-19-2004, 11:23 AM
I didn't know we needed a light antenna. Now a dark or heavy one might be ok-----

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

W5HTW
09-19-2004, 03:33 PM
I have light antennas throughout the house. Most of them are in the ceiling, but a couple are in installations on the end tables. I also have a pocket light antenna which uses D cells and radiates in more of a beam than omni-directional.

Ed

WA2ZDY
09-19-2004, 04:03 PM
I was chuckling along with you fellows, then I re-read that article and started thinking, maybe there's more to this than we see.

Most of us do indeed "see" light, or the absence thereof. Our eyes convert the light to electrical signals for our brains to play with, enjoy, whatever. Just as our ears hear and convert noise/sound to electrical signals for our brains.

Now think about this. Do they have "antennas" for audio frequencies? Sure they do. Think about the navy installations for transmitting to the submarine fleet. Those systems are indeed operating at audio frequencies - 10-14 KHz. That's SOUND fellows. But they don't use a transducer to make audible sounds, they use an antenna to radiate it as electromagnetic waves.

So what's the difference with light wave RF? None really, except the wavelengths are nearly unimaginably short instead of nearly unimaginably long. We use gadgets to convert light to electricity, so for whatever use may be developed in the future, maybe the conversion step could be eliminated.

I don't claim to fully understand the science involved, but it sounds solid to me. Maybe just theoretical now, but who knows what practical use may lay in the future?

N0KLT
09-19-2004, 09:28 PM
Quote[/b] (W5HTW @ Sep. 19 2004,09:33)]I have light antennas throughout the house. Most of them are in the ceiling, but a couple are in installations on the end tables. I also have a pocket light antenna which uses D cells and radiates in more of a beam than omni-directional.

Ed
Geeze, those are dark suckers not light antennas http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

K7KBN
09-19-2004, 10:40 PM
Ya know, I looked real close-like at one o' them light aerials (think it wuz the transmittin' kind, cuz it was real bright til I turned off thet thar switch thingy, an' burnt mah fingers on the aerial). #Woo Doggies, wa'an't it hot!!

Ennyways, I seed inside it, 'tweren't nothin' but like a end-fed wire aerial, but it's a-feedin BOTH ends at the same time! #Gess them light bugs get a-goin, some from one end and some from t'other. #Then I s'pose they meet in the middle somewheres and get to feudin' and a-fightin' and a-fussin' (anybody hear a song??)...and thet's what gives off all the heat an' light, I 'spose.

kg4kww
09-20-2004, 04:21 AM
NAWWWWW k7kbn, what you wasa seein was the inside of your shine jug.

This antenna could be da wave of the future. remember Star Trek went beyond radio to light transmissions which were received by interplanetary repeaters placed through the solar system.

Now will the antenna cut down on TVI? Yep it sure will do that. So, you and Jed and Bobbie Sue and Mary Jo can rag chew and not mess up jim bob's TV.

Yall, copy that!!

KA9VQF
09-20-2004, 05:58 AM
Seriously this may one day lead to replacement eyes. Like the bionic man had.

kg4kww
09-20-2004, 02:36 PM
How will a antenna allow someone to see KA9VQF?

How will undertakers deal with electronic eyes while prepping the dearly departed?

This antenna could be da wave of the future. remember Star Trek went beyond radio to light transmissions which were received by interplanetary repeaters placed through the solar system.

Could this antenna replace cable tv?

kg4kww
09-21-2004, 05:42 AM
No More Beams http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

KA9VQF
09-21-2004, 07:17 AM
Around here satellite dishes have pretty well replaced cable.

AG3Y
09-21-2004, 02:41 PM
Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ Sep. 20 2004,00:21)]This antenna could be da wave of the future. remember Star Trek went beyond radio to light transmissions which were received by interplanetary repeaters placed through the solar system.
The only problem with this whole scenereo is the latency issue. With the nearest star over three light years away it takes over 6 years for a signal to make the round trip to even that one, and MILLIONS of years to get to some other galaxy. Yes, I know, "Warp Factor" ! Sure plays hobbs on my interactive computer games, though!

I realize that thought can travel faster than that, though. When are we going to develop that? Boy, is it starting to get paraBnormally deep in here now! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

"Must concentrate. . . . think. . . think . . . think ! "

w0dz
09-21-2004, 08:46 PM
Next thing you know they'll be making things that actually EMIT light too! I can't wait!

kg4kww
09-22-2004, 03:47 AM
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif