[Shepherd777]

Hello All:

First post here. I have read other posts and searched, to no avail.

I am looking for a non-toxic gas that will make LASER beams visible.

When one thinks of visible LASER beams, one often thinks of a LASER Light Show. The beams in a LASER Light Show are visable because they use theatrical smoke or fog to enhance visibility. Normally, one would not see a LASER beam in the air, only where the beam ends as a dot.

I built a test box device from a aquarium and initally was going to fill the box with smoke. (pic attached) I can transfer gas and or vacuum to and from the box using a standard auto A/C Schrader valve mounted on top of the box. The wires were going to be connected to a nichrome wire that ignited the smoke bomb fuse.

Initally, I was going to vacuum test the box for leaks. But I thought the glass might shatter either during vacuuming as an implosion, or shatter during the smoke bomb process as an explosion. So I have ruled out the smoke bomb stuff.

Also, as Forum Administrator jdurg said in a post entitled " how to make a heatless smoke grenade?", smoke is "just a mixture of small particles of solid carries by a gas". Assuming that, one would have to think any small particle in the smoke in a draftless box, would eventually settle in the bottom of the box over time due to gravity. This is not acceptable as I want to be able to see the LASER beam in this experiment for years.

So after that background info, this is where the forum experts come into play.

My question is: Is there any non-toxic gas that I could insert into the box that would enable one to see a LASER beam passing thru the box?

Properties of this gas would have to include being unaffected by gravity dissipation. Is this even possible???

Thanks in advance for your time and replies.

Bob Sliwa
"Like a Midget at a Urinal, I was gonna haf'ta stay on my toes...."

 

[Borek]

To see laser beam like that you need Tyndal effect. It requires particles (like in smoke). Gas will be useless.

Perhaps steam will do - even if it will dissapear when condensed, it can be later easily recreated? There are some ultrasonic devices creating steam over the surface of water (I have seen such a thing in pet shop, for terrariums).

[billnotgatez]

Would the smoke effect created by putting dry ice into water work?

[Borek]

Would the smoke effect created by putting dry ice into water work?

It will be temporary effect, not for years as requested by the OP.

[P-man]

Why don't you just trap smoke in the box. I mean, isn't smoke theoratically gas?

[billnotgatez]

I think they want a gas that does not dissipate. I wonder if something Argon would work.

[Shepherd777]

To see laser beam like that you need Tyndal effect. It requires particles (like in smoke). Gas will be useless.

Perhaps steam will do - even if it will dissapear when condensed, it can be later easily recreated? There are some ultrasonic devices creating steam over the surface of water (I have seen such a thing in pet shop, for terrariums).

Borek -

Thanks for the reference to the Tyndall Effect. I never knew what it was called.

And thanks for the idea about steam. That might work. I might be able to constantly re-cycle the steam via gravity, and have it change back into liquid (water) form.  Does anyone know if water will evaporate in an enclosed container??? I cannot vacuum the container, because hey, that would remove all the water!

Why don't you just trap smoke in the box. I mean, isn't smoke theoratically gas?

P-man -

Even in the absence of air currents in an enclosed box, would not smoke dissipate from gravity acting on the particles???

I think they want a gas that does not dissipate. I wonder if something Argon would work.

billnotgatez -

Correct. The gas must not dissipate.

I was originally thinking about CO2 and water to make the same thing as Dry Ice & Water. I don't have any idea about Argon. I never went to kollage! Can anyone else reference a guess about using Argon?

Thanks again,
 

[Borek]

And thanks for the idea about steam. That might work. I might be able to constantly re-cycle the steam via gravity, and have it change back into liquid (water) form.  Does anyone know if water will evaporate in an enclosed container???

Google ultrasonic humidifier. When humidifier will work, you will have steam in the container (although to make the steam visible it must be condensing - that can be a little tricky and temperature dependent). When you will switch it off, steam will condesne and you will have some water at the bottom of the container. That shouldn't be a problem.