What is this phenominon?

[policetac]

When the laser is aimed at the top of a cylindrical object such as a small polished metal axle, the beam creates a straight line down slightly, and up to the ceiling, and back almost to the point of origin.
During this, the beam appears to scatter in a gradually growing pattern away from the beam.
Any help would be great.
Thanks in advance,
policetac

 

[Speedy78]

Some sort of strange reflection? Almost looks like its acting as a cylidrical lens but I have no idea. Looks neat though.

 

[policetac]

Yea, it is kinda cool huh?
I can see that it's more than likely reflecting from all points on the cylinder, but the scattering effect has me stumped. I'm having a problem understanding where the interference is coming from that causes the scatter.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[Leodahsan]

I'll give it a shot... I may be wrong ok?

The line format is the reflex from the metal you are aiming the laser at. The metal (aluminum?) is highly reflexive... acting like a cylindrical mirror.

The scattering is probably because of the material roughness. The laser hits it, a little of the beam gets reflected all the way around, because the metal, in a very small scale isn't flat, it is like "hill and plains", and when the laser hits the "side of a hill", it reflex to the right, left, etc...

Material Roughness (imagine that as the metal looked into a microscope):

 

[Speedy78]

Now that I think about it I believe thats exactly whats happening.

 

[bdgreenb]

Yeah, my stainless steel fridge and dishwasher make this same effect. I figured it was some sort of Angeled polishing. My fridge produces a vertical line and my dish washer makes a horizontal.

 

[Leodahsan]

:wave: hopefully I'll learn more about optics etc. So fascinating how a needle and a laser have so much physics involved. Glad to explain too

 

[EpicHam]

Not sure if I'm right, but since the beam has a diameter itself, the photons strikes the microscopiclly rough metallic surface at different angles , hence spreading the rays into a line fashion

 

[Leodahsan]

Not sure if I'm right, but since the beam has a diameter itself, the photons strikes the microscopiclly rough metallic surface at different angles , hence spreading the rays into a line fashion

Mixed info. The photons strike the surface, reflecting at a different angle. Thats what cause the line fashion (The picture you posted explain that really well).
The laser striking the microscopically rough surface is what cause the green "mist" around the line.

I looked for this pic a lot! Have a beer :beer:

 

[policetac]

Those are all excellent suggestions.
I was kind of thinking along the same lines with respect to the scattering effect, so I guess my next experiment is going to be to attempt to polish the cylinder a little bit and see if there's any discernible difference in the scattering effect. (It's getting a bit late tonight though so I probably won't get to it until tomorrow)
Thanks again to all who have answered.
Ultimately, I'm attempting to find some ways to use a laser to verify some new theories I have regarding matter and energy.
One of these is a new explanation for the cause and effects of the "Double slit experiment." (or double slit diffraction)
Anyway, thanks again. I appreciate the feedback.
Sincerely,
policetac

 

[EpicHam]

Well good luck to your endeavours policetac


PS:
Make sure to double check your theories eh?
I've had enough fun talking with genetic entropy believers already

 

[Meatball]

Those are all excellent suggestions.
I was kind of thinking along the same lines with respect to the scattering effect, so I guess my next experiment is going to be to attempt to polish the cylinder a little bit and see if there's any discernible difference in the scattering effect. (It's getting a bit late tonight though so I probably won't get to it until tomorrow)
Thanks again to all who have answered.
Ultimately, I'm attempting to find some ways to use a laser to verify some new theories I have regarding matter and energy.
One of these is a new explanation for the cause and effects of the "Double slit experiment." (or double slit diffraction)
Anyway, thanks again. I appreciate the feedback.
Sincerely,
policetac

If your polishing is good, you will certainly clean up the reflected line. The rod will look like a mirror if you've got it near perfect.

Good luck with your experiment.

 

[policetac]

..."PS:Make sure to double check your theories eh?
I've had enough fun talking with genetic entropy believers already."
The theories are I believe sound.
It's based on the plasma research of David LaPoint, in his video series The Primer Fields.
(No, it's not the Thunderbolts research!) lol
But, it does offer some very specific and common sense ideas relating to light and it's inherent properties.
Thanks again,
policetac

 

[tonyt]

Not sure if I'm right, but since the beam has a diameter itself, the photons strikes the microscopiclly rough metallic surface at different angles , hence spreading the rays into a line fashion

That is exactly right.

 

[Kartracer00]

FYI, This is a very cheap way to do the "Liquid Sky" effect. Used it all the time..
Just go stand on the other side of the line and blow some smoke/vapor towards the laser.
(Obviously don't stare at the laser, stand to the side)

 

[jbellin]

Not sure if I'm right, but since the beam has a diameter itself, the photons strikes the microscopiclly rough metallic surface at different angles , hence spreading the rays into a line fashion

that is nice graphic epicham. That is correct and fact of science. but is also true that bdgreenb says about a fridges an also dish washer metals with verticle an horizontel beam lines. OP had verticle line for beam so that cylinder is made of frige metal. this is phemominin of optical reflecting.

like if you fire a lazer beam at a parakeet than you would get no line. but if the parakeet was waring tiny metal suite of armor than you would get a beam line reflecting off it. if the line was horizontel it would mean the armor was made from dish washing metal but if the reflecting was verticle than would mean suite of armor is made of frigerater metals.

if parakeet was waring no suite of armor than the only line would be a verticle line of smoke just like you get from fire a laser beam at block of wood. so than we know that parakeets are made of wood. wich makes sense because in there natural habitat you will find parakeets sitting in trees ------also made of wood.

i will try to make diagram of parakeet with and with out armor suite to explain about reflecting metals an than post later. and maybe a diagram of parakeet in a tree to explain about smoking parakeet made of wood.