match lighting w/blu-ray

[Abray]

Today I revived my old dead blu-ray box and slapped a PHR in it. It's at about 86mA, but I don't know the actual output because I don't have a LPM. However, I started trying to light a match. Try as I might, I couldn't get the red match head to light. Then I let the dot go on the white on the very tip, and pretty quickly the match lit up! Why is it easier to light the white patch on the top of the head than to light the actual red head?

 

[pseudolobster]

the striker head of strike anywhere matches contains something that makes it burn easier... and it seems white objects absorb bluray light better than any other color somehow...

members here report being able to burn white paper with a <100mW bluray, but not being able to with a 500mW red.

it's kinda odd that the violet wouldn't burn red though, you'd expect a red match would absorb blue shades better than any other color... like with my red, I was able to burn blue matches instantly, but could not burn a red one at all unless sharpied.

 

[Abray]

yeah, the red part just does that little "I'll smoke and burn a little, but not actually light" tease.

I haven't tried burning paper yet, but I'll try that next.