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AlarmingAffect0 OP t1_iudo3jg wrote

Reply to comment by Busterwasmycat in Is there such a thing as a gamma radiation mirror? by AlarmingAffect0

> You would have to get into subatomic matter and such materials do not cluster in large enough masses to create an important obstruction.

I suppose Neutron Stars might reflect Gamma then? Though the point would be moot unless one could direct enough gamma towards the surface of one that the reflection would be appreciable compared to the vast amounts of energy it already radiates.

> basic optics is, because of optical mineralogy and coloration of minerals

Having done some optical mineralogy in Uni, I have nothing but respect for those who are actually comfortable with the study of crystalline structures and how we could guess them out using various frequencies of electromagnetic radiations. That sort of stuff was practically opaque to me, pun intended. I remember trying to read an explanation of why Calcite did its double refraction thingie and coming out more confused than when I came in.

On the other hand, historical geology is very intuitive to understand and it really feels amazing to be able to make rather reliable educated guesses as to why our world looks the way it does. It's truly wondrous stuff.

Anyway, Geologists, severely underrated, need more hype.

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Anacoenosis t1_iuea1mh wrote

On the geologists front, I wholeheartedly agree. My personal favorite is Nick Zentner of Central Washington University, whose lectures on YouTube are extremely lucid and clear about how geologists arrived at their conclusions and what's still up for debate.

Still mindblowing to me that plate tectonics were still "up for debate" as late as the early 1960s.

Anyway, my favorite lecture of his is Ancient Rivers of the Pacific Northwest.

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mglyptostroboides t1_iufolp0 wrote

I'm appreciating all the geologist love in this thread. I should go back to college and finish my degree...

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Orgalorgg t1_iugwumz wrote

Yes! I saw the Ancient Rivers of the PNW one as well and am close enough that I went out to eastern oregon to see the gigantic blobs of lava rock that still exist there. Very cool to see!!! Oddly terrifying even though it happened millions of years ago.

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HOLLANDSYTSE t1_iuh4xz2 wrote

Geography teacher here, thanks for this. Need to brush up in geology a bit!

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colonel_Schwejk t1_iuh7n0n wrote

he's bloody good!

i only regret he specializes into american geography, i'd like to listen to what he knows about every place on earth :)

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_AlreadyTaken_ t1_iuetwgx wrote

As far as I understand the surface of a neutron star is a very thin layer of normal nuclei and an extremely thin iron vapor "atmosphere". Gamma rays might end up interacting with the surface and having pair production (coverting to an electron snd positron) before reaching the neutron density layer.

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AlarmingAffect0 OP t1_iufoexp wrote

> Gamma rays might end up interacting with the surface and having pair production (coverting to an electron snd positron) before reaching the neutron density layer.

Is there a way of estimating how much of the gamma radiation would make it to the neutron density layer?

Also is that hot iron in the form of vapor rather than plasma?

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gravity_surf t1_iufc2ao wrote

you would enjoy the randall carlson podcast. earth history by way of geology and cosmology.

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Generically_Yours t1_iufqzls wrote

I love him. Whole new take on a planet we've been standing on our whole lives every time I listen to him.

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