No, those 2's up there aren't projected onto steam or vapor, they're actually made up of vapor. It's a tricky practice due to the whole "atoms constantly moving around in a floating cloud" thing, but they managed to figure out how to do it.
In their technique, the researchers first stored an image (for example, the number “2”) in a light pulse. When that light pulse hits a gas of atoms, it is strongly absorbed, and excites the atoms. But when a second light beam is aimed at the gas, it drives the atoms to a unique quantum state, and causes the first pulse to pass through the vapor. This phenomenon is called electromagnetically induced transparency.
As previous experiments have shown, when the second light beam is shut off while the first pulse is inside the vapor, the first pulse can be completely stopped (and be temporarily stored inside the vapor). Then, by starting up the second beam again, the first pulse can be recovered.
OK, so we're only talking about the image retaining its shape for a few microseconds, but still, it's pretty sweet. Hopefully they'll perfect this tech and put it into the next version of the Happy Vappy. I'm ready and willing to test it out. [PhysOrg]
Comments
I can make number twos also.
I knew I should have patented this.
It won't be long now until images of sexual organs appear in the fog.
I'm not smoking, I'm storing information.
This truly does seem almost like a "proof of concept" for future floating images for television and information screens like we've seen in so many movies. I just hope advertisers don't get their grubby hands on it first.
Great, more vaporware.
wait....what??
Is this how ghosts appear?
Now back to Prime Number Vortex on Gizmodo StonerKids!
2ooooooooo
3eeeeeeeee
5iiiiiive
@ps61318: Excellent, had I been drinking coffee at the moment, the classic ruining of my keyboard and/or monitor would have occurred.
A few microseconds is an eternity in this day and age of science but I wonder if they could do transitions between images...vapor animation would be pretty sweet.
Cool, a step closer to holographic video is always welcome.
i can make zeros....
@chonnes: Sure, if you want to fill your living room with supercooled rubidium vapor.
@dingus: Who doesn't?
@dingus: Supercooled? It's 52°C. And who said you can't contain rubidium in a glass vessel?
@Git Em SteveDave has a crush on the Swedes: @ripfire: Yeah, let's not be dissin' the supercooled rubidium vapor. Until you've tried it.
Once supercooled rubidium vapor, never back.
or something.
...coming to a billboard near you.
so this will be adapted into a fart sign machine when?
@ASCurtis: lol
1 + 2 = relief
I for one welcome our intelligent glowing vapor overlords.
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