Cherenkov Radiation: Sonic Boom For Light? Beautiful Phenomenon!

One of the universe's most beautiful phenomenon, in the most unlikely of places.

This blue glow is Cherenkov Radiation, and it is found in active nuclear reactors!

While I am no particle physicist, I am mesmerized by this gorgeous glow. From my experience, not many people are aware of this natural phenomenon and I would like to share it with the steemit community. I have only a rudimentary knowledge of the subject but none the less I am motivated by its effects to encourage others to explore its workings.

This brilliant blue glow is the by product of nuclear fission products traveling through the water around the core. As a particle is released from the fission reaction, it is traveling at very high velocity, and in fact it is traveling faster than the speed of light... sort of. Since light travels slower in different mediums; for example, 75% the speed of light in water vs a vacuum, particles that are released during nuclear fission can move faster than the light traveling through the medium and thus do not break any laws of physics. Say a particle is released at 80% the speed of light, that particle will out run light in the medium and still be slower than the universal speed limit of 100% light speed in a vacuum. This creates a sort of light shock wave! A somewhat comparable (and most likely on all accounts mathematically and physically different occurance) phenomenon is a sonic boom. As an object breaks the sound barrier, it is moving faster than sound in that medium. This creates a shock front behind the object moving faster than sound! Light does not need a medium to travel in so I feel this example is only a good visualization of what happens and not necessarily equivalent.

These are small clouds being formed by the shock front created by a jet airplane. As the shock front passes through the air it actually condenses water vapor in the air!

When a charged particle creates this light shock front in the water, it releases energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The full electromagnetic spectrum contains wavelengths of light from gama, x-ray, ultra-violet, up into the visible spectrum containing all of the colors of the rainbow, past into infra-red, microwave, and radio waves.

Some of this radiation released by the particle is in the visible spectrum, this is why we are able to see the blue glow. The majority of the glow is unltra-violet light, with only a small amount in the deep blue range of visible light. The faster the particle the higher the wavelength of light produced so only the most energetic light waves create visible Cherenkov radiation.

The water is completely sterile and void of life due to the high levels of radiation. I once spoke with a EPA board member about nuclear reactor safety and he describe the water to me as "the most pristine, crystal clear, clean water on earth". You could see by his expression and tone it was truly a spectacle. I can only imagine that the combination of the Cherenkov radiation in this pristine water would be astonishing in person, assuming you would survive the radiation while the reactor is running.

The portrayal of DC Comic's Dr. Manhatten from the series "The Watchmen" was modeled after Cherenkov Radiation.

Nuclear reactors could have very well had no distinguishing visual characteristics and I find it quite intriguing and beautiful that this reaction manifests itself in such a fantastic show of light.

If you happen to know more about this occurrence, if I have left something out, or if I am incorrect (which more than likely I am) please leave a comment. I would love to learn more and discuss this interesting topic further!

Follow me at @hutchordie for more exciting and fascinating scientific content! Thank you!