>> Gypsum is also used in frequency doubling crystals, which makes sense,<<
Fascinating!
>> because to double the frequency you half the wavelength, <<
I remember that from music.
>> and short wavelength Infra-red isn't absorbed by the atmosphere, it goes straight out into space. It's also the principle heating element of sunlight, as it's absorbed by objects, and re-radiated as longer wavelength IR, which is absorbed by air [and greenhouse gasses.] <<
Okay, so we could take this initial example and generalize it to look for ways that turn LWIR to SWIR. It doesn't need to be incorporated into active cooling systems. My target would be durable materials that could be used to surface roads, roofs, parking lot shades, etc. thus turning heat absorbers into heat disposals.
Another approach would be looking for a transparent version that could be cast into or filmed over windows to prevent them from turning buildings into greenhouses. Like the search for a lightbulb filament, it might take 10,000 attempts to find what works, but the payoff would be enormous.
>> As you say, it's a very impressive trick. Now we need a few billion square miles of the stuff.<<
If it's made with gypsum or something else common, we could do that. If it's like rare-earth supermagnets, then we couldn't. But we could certainly investigate the radiative properties of common materials to find the ones with useful exchanges. No telling what you'll get on any given planet, but there's usually something good.
So far, most of what I've seen has involved pale reflective coatings to bounce the light off of surfaces so it doesn't absorb and turn into heat. That alone has a lot of potential if we could turn blacktop and tar roofs from absorption to reflection. But it would be better if we could channel the waves OUT of the atmosphere.
Also, I'd like to see humans focus on a technology that is less destructive. Spectral manipulation can be weaponized, but it's really tedious to figure out how. The industrial applications are many, profitable, and easier to find. Given how badly we need heat dumpers right now, that would be constructive motivation. I just hope they don't fuck around for several decades like they did with solar panels.
Thoughts
Fascinating!
>> because to double the frequency you half the wavelength, <<
I remember that from music.
>> and short wavelength Infra-red isn't absorbed by the atmosphere, it goes straight out into space. It's also the principle heating element of sunlight, as it's absorbed by objects, and re-radiated as longer wavelength IR, which is absorbed by air [and greenhouse gasses.] <<
Okay, so we could take this initial example and generalize it to look for ways that turn LWIR to SWIR. It doesn't need to be incorporated into active cooling systems. My target would be durable materials that could be used to surface roads, roofs, parking lot shades, etc. thus turning heat absorbers into heat disposals.
Another approach would be looking for a transparent version that could be cast into or filmed over windows to prevent them from turning buildings into greenhouses. Like the search for a lightbulb filament, it might take 10,000 attempts to find what works, but the payoff would be enormous.
>> As you say, it's a very impressive trick. Now we need a few billion square miles of the stuff.<<
If it's made with gypsum or something else common, we could do that. If it's like rare-earth supermagnets, then we couldn't. But we could certainly investigate the radiative properties of common materials to find the ones with useful exchanges. No telling what you'll get on any given planet, but there's usually something good.
So far, most of what I've seen has involved pale reflective coatings to bounce the light off of surfaces so it doesn't absorb and turn into heat. That alone has a lot of potential if we could turn blacktop and tar roofs from absorption to reflection. But it would be better if we could channel the waves OUT of the atmosphere.
Also, I'd like to see humans focus on a technology that is less destructive. Spectral manipulation can be weaponized, but it's really tedious to figure out how. The industrial applications are many, profitable, and easier to find. Given how badly we need heat dumpers right now, that would be constructive motivation. I just hope they don't fuck around for several decades like they did with solar panels.