The laser was able to juggle drops

Suspended using a laser beammicro glycerin drops begin to move in orbits, which in their form resemble the trajectory of the juggler balls. This unexpected discovery came physicists from Germany and Sweden, who were not only able to explain this phenomenon, but also built a visual model. With its help, we can also look at the movement of drops.

For hanging particles in the air scientistsfocused a laser beam with a power of about one watt, and to compensate for the force of gravity, they directed the beam upwards. Then the charged liquid droplets scattered over the laser: they gradually subsided under the action of gravity, after which part of the droplets hit the focus of the beam and began to “levitate”. Scientists succeeded in tracing the particle trajectory with the help of an LED setup light. The observation was made by a long-range microscope.

Then the movement was recorded on the camera (frame rate - 45 000 per second), and now we can see this phenomenon.

Why does such a phenomenon occur? When one of the drops is under the other, it weakens the intensity of the electromagnetic field of the beam. Gravity begins to act on the top drop, and it rapidly falls down. At the same time, it is repelled from the center of the beam, due to the difference in the intensity of light under the lower drop and in its center. As soon as the drops are at the same height, the one that is closer to the center begins to rise, and the second, on the contrary, is attracted to the center of the beam (gradient force). The cycle repeats, and it all starts to look like juggling balls.

The hypothesis of the dispersal of small particles of light wasIt was also voiced by Johann Kepler, who suggested that the tails of comets are directed from the Sun due to the fact that they are repelled by the rays of a star. Of course, there is no practical benefit from such an experiment, but it is worth experimenting with light for at least one reason - to make a small particle accelerator. In addition, it was the study of light and particles allowed to simulate the radiation of a black hole.

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