Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Mjhavok on 17/08/2006 05:37:09

Title: Another couple QOTW
Post by: Mjhavok on 17/08/2006 05:37:09

1. What is the quantum hall effect?


2. What is a quasar?

Steven
_______________________________________________________________
In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

Title: Re: Another couple QOTW
Post by: neilep on 17/08/2006 17:48:57

Hi Steven,

How are you today ?

Well..I have no idea what a Quantum Hall effect is...perhaps it's when you think for a moment you are appearing at the Royal Albert Hall !! and also doing your daily duites too all at the same time  !!..yes..I am sure that is it [:)]

...and as far as a quasar.......well.....there are far more  ' people in the know '  here than myself but one disctionary  definition is ' An extremely distant, and thus old, celestial object whose power output is several thousand times that of our entire galaxy.'   which doesn't really say much but have you looked at the Wiki entry  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasar ?

Enjoy...and perhaps a summary definition will be provided here to complement my ' get out of jail cop-out ' link ! [:)]

Men are the same as women, just inside out !

Title: Re: Another couple QOTW
Post by: Mjhavok on 18/08/2006 17:45:30

Hi Neil,

I'm good. I know the answer to both questions. I just posted them for people to answer. To slice through the boredom.

I try to make the internet better :-D

-Steven

Title: Re: Another couple QOTW
Post by: Soul Surfer on 19/08/2006 12:02:03

The hall effect is the production of a potential difference across a conductor in a magnetic field as a current flows through it.  The quantum hall effect occurs when this is used with very small currents in small apparatus usually at superconducting temperatures in circuits where even the tiniest current will not die away  Detectable votages are produced by individual magnertic qanta in the apparatus showing individual steps of voltage.  It is one of the few examples of the observation of individual quantum processes in macroscopic objects.  It can produce an incredibly sensitive magnetic detector  known as a SQUID or Superconducting Quantum Interference Device.  these devices are used in aircraft to detect  submarines under water by measuring the effect on the earth's magnetic field over distances of miles.  because they are vector detectors it is possible to direction find on the source of a magnetic anomaly and track it.


A quasar is an extremely small high energy radiation source that mostly existed relatively early in the universe.  It is probably a large (but not too large ) black hole that is accreting mass at a high level from a surrounding galaxy.  The black hole is small enough to disrupt the stars as it swallows them creating some quite spectacular firewoks in which an object the size of our solar system can emit many times more energy than our galaxy.

Definitely the sort of object you don't want to get too close to!

Learn, create, test and tell
evolution rules in all things
God says so!

Title: Re: Another couple QOTW
Post by: Mjhavok on 23/08/2006 23:28:19

You the man.

Title: Re: Another couple QOTW
Post by: Mjhavok on 23/08/2006 23:28:19

You the man.

Title: Re: Another couple QOTW
Post by: Mjhavok on 23/08/2006 23:28:19

You the man.