Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Cherenkov Radiation Captured in Photo

Via Wired.com -


Submerged in a pool of water, these stainless-steel nuclear-waste capsules contain radioactive material. The water serves as a shield against the radiation emitted. Nearly 2,000 capsules reside at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State, which is considered among the most contaminated waste sites in the United States.

"Radiation is a light source I've never worked with, so there was no visual reference to shoot (the images) from -- it was a leap of faith," Simon said. "I found this one section that resembled the U.S. That was a great find." The blue glow comes from an effect called Cherenkov radiation.

Photo: Taryn Simon, courtesy of Gagosian Gallery

-------------------------

Check out the other cool pics in this article by clicking the Wired link above. I personally like the Playboy (Braille Edition) and the Transatlantic cable end point.

No comments:

Post a Comment