Laser snow

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Laser snow is the precipitation through a chemical reaction, condensation and coagulation process, of clustered atoms or molecules, induced by passing a laser beam through certain gasses. [1] It was first observed by Tam, Moe and Happer in 1975, [2] and has since been noted in a number of gases. [3]

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References

  1. Ernst, Krzysztof (1983). "Laser Snow Effect in CS2 Vapour". Advances in Laser Spectroscopy. Springer, Boston, MA. pp. 331–337. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-3715-7_15. ISBN   9781461337171.
  2. Tam, A; Moe, G.; Happer, W. (1975). "Particle Formation by Resonant Laser Light in Alkali-Metal Vapor". Phys. Rev. Lett. 35 (24): 1630–1633. Bibcode:1975PhRvL..35.1630T. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.35.1630.
  3. Beverini, N.; Ernst, K.; Inguscio, M.; Strumia, F. (1981-09-01). ""Laser snow" effect in CS2 vapour induced by krypton laser". Applied Physics B. 26 (1): 57–60. Bibcode:1981ApPhB..26...57B. doi:10.1007/BF00702688. ISSN   0946-2171. S2CID   121856295.