magnets?

[Serinox]

lol i remeber somtin like that in science class where light from a star on the other side of our sun could be seen because of gravity or sumtin cant remeber =P

I believe the effect is called gravitational lensing (wiki article en(dot)wikipedia(dot)org/wiki/Gravitational_lensing you'll need to replace the (dot) with a period)

 

[Things]

If you have a source of a high enough voltage to create an arc, you can demonstrate bending the arc with magnets. Of course, dont hold the magnet in your hand and stick it into the arc, tape it to the end of the usual chicken stick and do it. The bend isnt huge, but you can clearly see the arc moving with the magnet.

An arc is formed when air is ionized enough to create a path for the current to travel through, which is by terms, plasma.

 

[Ragnarok]

The larger ion lasers use a cylindrical electromagnet around the bore that "squeezes" the plasma along the length of the bore, decreasing its volume, which increases the energy density (and hence output), and greatly assists in keeping the plasma away from the bore walls, reducing erosive effects.

Also as mentioned above, some helium-neon lasers, especially those with longer tubes, use magnets placed at intervals along the tube; these are not used for the same purpose as in the ion laser, but rather to enhance the gain of the visible laser transitions over the naturally higher gain of infrared laser transitions by decreasing the gain of those transitions, which originate from the same levels as the visible lines; because of their higher gain the infrared lines tend to "take over" in longer tubes and rob energy that would otherwise show up in the visible lines.

R.

 

[Diode_Virgin]

The larger ion lasers use a cylindrical electromagnet around the bore that "squeezes" the plasma along the length of the bore, decreasing its volume, which increases the energy density (and hence output), and greatly assists in keeping the plasma away from the bore walls, reducing erosive effects.

Also as mentioned above, some helium-neon lasers, especially those with longer tubes, use magnets placed at intervals along the tube; these are not used for the same purpose as in the ion laser, but rather to enhance the gain of the visible laser transitions over the naturally higher gain of infrared laser transitions by decreasing the gain of those transitions, which originate from the same levels as the visible lines; because of their higher gain the infrared lines tend to "take over" in longer tubes and rob energy that would otherwise show up in the visible lines.

R.

You just said it all and correctly stated. I would give you a rep +1 if I knew how, and somebody should. Simple, direct & accurate

 

[Deleted member 13229]

To give him rep just click the little green square with a + in it next to his rep number.

OT, but it's nice to see you here again Ragnarok!