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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Casio diode turret of doom

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Apr 28, 2010
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24W of non-coherent light isn't as dangerous as 24W of laser light, even considering the beam dimensions, right? light waves in phase = more energy converted into heat in the target.

That looks cool. We need those here in Australia to zap all the illegal boat people... *kidding*
 





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Mar 26, 2010
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If it's focused, 'normal' light can be just as dangerous. I've melted many a penny with just sunlight after all. However it's not possible to keep non-coherent light in a narrow low divergence beam. So any projected non coherent source is going to diverge fast enough to not be a hazard unless your point blank at the source.
 

daguin

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I'd turn it down to 75% for longer life :tinfoil:

*note to self -- Need 110V backpack :whistle:

Peace,
dave
 

Benm

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24W of non-coherent light isn't as dangerous as 24W of laser light, even considering the beam dimensions, right?

Wrong, basically.

Its all about how much light enters your eye. Coherence doesnt mater much at all, and if you would take a hit from a laser show, chances are you are beyond coherence lenght anyway.
 

diachi

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power is the same regardless of coherence. The thing that matters ( as others have said ) is the power density at the retina. I'm pretty sure that if you could withstand the blast from a nuclear bomb the light from it would blind you, even though it is not coherent.
 

Benm

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I totally agree, but people seem to flip out on safety concerns when the source is a laser, but don't bother to think twice if the source is a halogen lamp or something similar.

Staring into the sun, or into a car highbeam point blank are also hazardous activities, but noone seems to care at all since they seem so common they cannot pose a hazard.
 

Benm

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I havent seen any of those in operation, but i'm sure they must have been something like a welding arc on a pole ;)
 
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Back in the day (and maybe even still) big searchlights like you might see at important events or grand openings were carbon arc.
 

Benm

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Mostly WW-2 era searchlights employed carbon arcs, but so did early european street and stage lights.
 





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