Recent Trip To Wash DC Natural History Museum Fluorescent Gems!

[itw3ak]

Hey guys!,
Had a good time recently walking through the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington D.C specifically the gems and minerals exhibit and exposing the wide array of exhibitions to a 120mW violet laser to reveal fluorescence I had hoped to hit the Hope diamond but the way the diamond is exhibited makes that difficult to do without possibly hitting someone in the eyes lol. I hear it glows a bright orange too oh well here is a pic and a couple videos i shot to show off the effect better.

Picasa Web Albums - Tw3ak

Picasa Web Albums - Tw3ak

 

[HaloBlu]

I would have rushed in the doors the second they open in the morning to get a shot at the Hope Diamond! Plus its unset for the first time ever on display! To see all 45.5 Carats of Hope Diamond phosphorescing a fiery 660nm red-orange. *drool* Simply brilliant. Unlike others that only fluoresce the Hope will even continue to glow for almost five minutes.

Wittelsbach-Graff diamond (left) & Hope diamond (right)

Was it still unset? Its new setting was to debut sometime this year.

 

[toogoofy]

I can't help but think there is something wrong in doing this, but it looks so cool!

 

[HaloBlu]

What could be wrong with the idea of blasting a few hundred mW of 405nm at the *cough*$350.million*cough* Hope Diamond? While I'm sure the museum would be less then pleased, Diamonds do have a uniquely high thermal conductivity.
The other gems & minerals might not like it as much.

 

[toogoofy]

Let not forget the whole curse thing: A New Zealand newspaper article in 1888 described the supposedly lurid history of the Hope Diamond, including a claim that it was "said once to have formed the single eye of a great idol".

I'm not sure, but I don't think it would be a good idea to blind that eye! :crackup:

 

[kingdave2357]

Do all diamonds do this? And what about 473nm?

 

[HaloBlu]

Nope most Diamonds will not glow red-orange, that is Very rare. How a Diamond reacts to UV depends on its type (based on chemical impurities). Most common type of Diamonds may fluorescence blue.
It has been found that Blue (Type IIb) Diamonds phosphorescence at 500nm (blue-green) & 660nm (red) under UV. BUT many appear pink or bluish Instead of red-orange because their red is overpowered by blue-green. So the Hope Diamonds red-orange glow is rare property among an already rare type of Diamond.
(Only 0.1% of Diamonds are Blue Type IIb)
wikipedia Diamond_type --- wikipedia Material_properties_of_diamond#Optical_properties --- Hope Diamond's Fiery Red Phosphorescence --- Unique Diamonds
Plus common Diamonds only fluorescence, the glow stops as soon as UV is turned off. Whereas phosphorescence will continue to glow.

 

[kingdave2357]

cool I need to try that on some diamonds
I have a calcite type rock that continues to glow for a sec after hitting it in a nice orange color.

 

[kingdave2357]

Actually come to think of it, im in MD, not too far from the smithsonian Perhaps ill pay it a visit, I wanna see the hope glowing red-orange:eg: Im thinking of getting a phr and throwing together something real cheap(incase of confiscation) and having someone with the laser a few feet away, and ill be by the display with a camera like a normal tourist