G'Day, I've heard several comments about using CDRoms as signal mirrors and last week an ISP vendor kindly supplied me with one I had requested several months ago but no longer needed. So, I took the CD onto the water with friends and have to report that in our hands the mirror was only effective at a few meters although its general shape is useful for lining up the target with the sun. We tried distances varying from about ten to a hundred meters and found that the mirror flash was diffuse and colored and difficult to spot. I once saw an electron micrograph of a CDRom, it was covered with indentations tens of microns wide by 100's of microns long, so I guess its acting something like a diffraction gating combined with a diffuse reflector. Has anyone actually had any success using a CD Rom as a signalling mirror over realistic distances? All the best, PeterO Who also helps with the Paddlewise Who's Who List so if you need to add an entry or make a modification Please contact me on Who's Who *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sat May 26 2001 - 16:21:18 PDT
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