I'm pretty sure this is an extraordinarily dumb question but I'm a complete laser-ludite and could really do with some help, so here goes...
The Royal Greenwich Observatory in London uses a laser to mark the Meridian Line (0° longitude) each evening - sending a green beam across the London skyline. Although I love seeing the beam overhead, what fascinates me more is that when you enter the room that houses the laser, behind the laser is a miasma of unfocused green light. I am assuming that this is unfocused radiation spilling out of the laser housing and bouncing off any moats of dust in the air? It is visually befuddling and not a little spectacular and as a visual artist and I would dearly love to be able to recreate this unfocused effect in a room-sized installation. So... my questions to the forum are...
1. what is it that I'm looking at when I see this fuzzy green light?
2. is it possible to recreate the phenomenon? If yes, how?
3. would it be safe to do so?
Many thanks in advance for any help, Cheryl
The Royal Greenwich Observatory in London uses a laser to mark the Meridian Line (0° longitude) each evening - sending a green beam across the London skyline. Although I love seeing the beam overhead, what fascinates me more is that when you enter the room that houses the laser, behind the laser is a miasma of unfocused green light. I am assuming that this is unfocused radiation spilling out of the laser housing and bouncing off any moats of dust in the air? It is visually befuddling and not a little spectacular and as a visual artist and I would dearly love to be able to recreate this unfocused effect in a room-sized installation. So... my questions to the forum are...
1. what is it that I'm looking at when I see this fuzzy green light?
2. is it possible to recreate the phenomenon? If yes, how?
3. would it be safe to do so?
Many thanks in advance for any help, Cheryl