Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site umn-cs.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!crickman
From: crickman@umn-cs.UUCP (Robin Crickman)
Newsgroups: net.sci
Subject: Re: Re: Questions on PHOTONS
Message-ID: <837@umn-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 23-Nov-85 00:45:35 EST
Article-I.D.: umn-cs.837
Posted: Sat Nov 23 00:45:35 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 24-Nov-85 07:34:33 EST
References: <1092@mtuxo.UUCP> <petrus.679> <169@ccnysci.UUCP>
Organization: Computer Science Dept., U of Minn, Mpls, MN
Lines: 26

-----
>  Let me present a related question:
> 
> Take a room of arbitrary size, dimensions and atmosphere and decorate walls,
> floors and ceiling with mirrors (The good ones, not the cheap tile mirrors:-))
> Place a light source inside, any that you choose (light bulb, flash tube,
> mercury lamp). What will intensity of light in that room be,
> assuming the lamp and room corners absorb none of the light?

The source can't emit if it can't absorb.  Photons exempt from the exclusion
principle.  This means that any number can occupy the same space: any hole
with photons coming out can have photons going in at the same rate.

> Will the intensity of light be a function of time?

If the mirrors are perfect, the light intensity will increase until it is the
same throughout the room as at the surface of the source.  At this point, the
source will be emitting and absorbing at the same rate: equilibrium.

> If a hole is drilled from the outside, will laser light shoot out?

Not likely, unless you used just the right sort of source (ie, the right sort
of gas discharge tube) and the geometry of the mirrors was just right.

John Hasler, guest of
...ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!crickman