...would task an agency to catalog 90% of something that no one knows the total number of. I can see it now:
Politician: We want you to catalog 90% of asteroids by 2020. Scientist: But sir, we don't know how many asteroids there are! Politician: Exactly!
That's like during a hearing regarding alkali runoff and the effect on the pH of lakes a scientist said that their goal was to get the pH down to 7 by next year. A politician says, "That's unacceptable - we want it down to 0 by next year!".
You are correct - I am currently using only 5mW lasers. As I stated, if I wanted to deal with the regulatory hassle and liability, I could benefit from using much higher power. For example, with an MPE of 1 mW/cm2, a 5mW HeNe laser beam expanded to a 1.26 cm radius circle is 'eye-safe' (that's what I do now). By increasing the power to 500mW, I'd only have to increase the circle radius to 12.6cm to be eye-safe. I can handle that on the transmit side with a large plastic lens and on the receive side with a somewhat larger lens focusing onto the sensor. I'd experience a 100x (20dB) power gain, with a gain of only 12x in beam radius.
Note that we're talking at cross-purposes a little bit. I'm using lasers with keen adherence to the MPE limits outside of the equipment. You're concerned with uses that exceed the MPE outside the equipment. I agree that lasers used in such a way to that exceeds the MPE should be regulated, but the devices themselves should not be banned outright.
Even though I am allowed to emit 1500W of RF on various frequencies including 2.45GHz (think two small microwave ovens on at the same time with their doors wide open), I am also tasked with using that power responsibly (exposure limits, interference limits, etc).
And even then, due to the lack of dispersion of the beam, it would only affect one eye of a single pilot.
A good Helium-Neon (HeNe) laser tube has a divergence half-angle of 1 mR (milliRadian). At 100 feet, that's a beam diameter of 2.4 inches. (For you metric folk, at 30m the beam is 6 cm in diameter). That's hardly a one-eye beam, and that's from a very well collimated HeNe laser. A diode pointer will have far worse collimation, hence a much larger diameter beam. Laser diodes have intrinsic beam divergences on the order of several tens of degrees. With their crappy lenses to correct it, it might get down to 5 mR, which results in a 12" beam diameter at 100 feet.
[ beam diameter = 2 * x * tan div_angle, where x is the distance from the pointer ].
Sounds to me like we need a technological solution.
I have a technological solution in my back pocket. Register the serial number of every laser pointer sold. Have every laser pointer modulate the beam with its serial number. Voila!
As an Amateur Radio operator, I use (admittedly low power) laser pointers as point-to-point communications links. I am mindful of the exposure limits, and pre-spread the beam if necessary to comply. By using higher power, I could increase not only the distance over which the link were useful, but also the data rate for existing links.
None of the satellites we'll be using in 2029 when it passes are in space right now cuz the recommended lifespan of satellites is like 8-12 years or something.
While what you say is technically correct, it misses the point that all of the current geosynchronous satellites that are in use today will still be in parking orbits in 2029. They don't re-enter geosync birds, they just (try to) boost them into a higher, non-useful parking orbit. As far as the asteroid is concerned, however, they're just as juicy a target, operating or not.
That's funny! When I was in Scotland I mentioned to the guy at a petrol station that our lowest octane 'petrol' was 87. His reply was, "Why, that's paraffin!". Theirs, as I recall, was 95 - RON, MON or (RON + MON)/2, I don't know.
The name "Quark" came from the story Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce.
From the wikipedia article:
The phrase "Three quarks for Muster Mark" on page 383 of Finnegans Wake is the origin of the spelling given by physicist Murray Gell-Mann to quarks, a type of subatomic particle.[88] (In the novel, the phrase is sung by a chorus of seabirds, and probably means 'three cheers' or--judging from Joyce's notes--three jeers.)
...that if one applies the FCC's RF exposure limits to a clear, sunny day, you'd be over the permissible limit by a factor of 100.
(Solar constant = 1366 W/m2; insolation at surface approx 1000 W/m2; limit according to FCC OET Bulletin 65, Appendix A, Table 1(b) for freqs up to 100GHz (assuming the same limit applies to sunlight) = 1.0 mW/cm2 = 10 W/m2).
As has been stated, it's not just the frequency, but the power, too. Together they define the 'Specific Absorption Rate'. It depends on frequency, body orientation, etc. The FCC publishes RF safety bulletins at here. The one I'm most familiar with is the one that applies to Amateur Radio Operators: OET Bulletin 65. Supplement B helps explain exposure calculation and limits. Table 4a in Supplement B shows the effect of frequency on absorption. So with 1500W of power (approx 1.5x the output power of a typical microwave oven) at 2.0 MHz, a member of the public can be standing as little as 0.8m from a 0db gain antenna!!! Compare that with the limit for 29.7 MHz at the same power level and the same antenna: 12.2m. The power and antenna gain didn't change, only the frequency.
If you use the 100W column with 0db, you'll note that the acceptable distances peak between 10m and 1.25m. You body has resonances between those wavelengths, enhancing the absorption of energy. (a quarter wave at 10m is 2.5m, which approaches typical male height. A 50MHz quarter wave is 2m - pretty close to average height and near the center of the absorption peak.)
Supplement B, Appendix A, Table 1 lists the acceptable exposure limits in algebraic form.
It was like, totally "Gag me with a backhoe", cause, like spoons were so last week! OMG! Seriously, there seems to have been at least some collective consciousness re: the backhoe - google it; it isn't just me. It was either in a song or a joke that floated around back in the 'dark times'.
Indeed. I've seen most of those atrocious examples of stupidity as well. Describing modern car construction techniques as 'monocot' made me laugh. 'Per say' really gets under my skin for some reason. I need to start a wiki where people can add abuses they've seen. Humm.....
Slashdot Mirror
Additionally, they spell Mazatlán "Mazatian", Cancún as "Cancuún", and Tulum as "Tulun". It's as if they OCR'ed a map.
They show Tuckerton, NJ near the Va/NC border, and Manahawkin on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
No, but they can buy it.
That's like during a hearing regarding alkali runoff and the effect on the pH of lakes a scientist said that their goal was to get the pH down to 7 by next year. A politician says, "That's unacceptable - we want it down to 0 by next year!".
Note that we're talking at cross-purposes a little bit. I'm using lasers with keen adherence to the MPE limits outside of the equipment. You're concerned with uses that exceed the MPE outside the equipment. I agree that lasers used in such a way to that exceeds the MPE should be regulated, but the devices themselves should not be banned outright.
Even though I am allowed to emit 1500W of RF on various frequencies including 2.45GHz (think two small microwave ovens on at the same time with their doors wide open), I am also tasked with using that power responsibly (exposure limits, interference limits, etc).
Actually, when the travel/commerce ban is lifted, I want to be one of the first people over there to buy up their classic cars!
You're very close to a violation of Tiller's rule: that's ovo-lacto-vegetarian. You know, ovo meaning egg, lacto meaning milk in Latin?
What the heck is an eight-milk-vegetarian? 5 more than tres leches cake?
A good Helium-Neon (HeNe) laser tube has a divergence half-angle of 1 mR (milliRadian). At 100 feet, that's a beam diameter of 2.4 inches. (For you metric folk, at 30m the beam is 6 cm in diameter). That's hardly a one-eye beam, and that's from a very well collimated HeNe laser. A diode pointer will have far worse collimation, hence a much larger diameter beam. Laser diodes have intrinsic beam divergences on the order of several tens of degrees. With their crappy lenses to correct it, it might get down to 5 mR, which results in a 12" beam diameter at 100 feet.
[ beam diameter = 2 * x * tan div_angle, where x is the distance from the pointer ].
I recommend Sam's Laser FAQ; it is an incredible source of information on lasers: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/lasersam.htm
I have a technological solution in my back pocket. Register the serial number of every laser pointer sold. Have every laser pointer modulate the beam with its serial number. Voila!
[Tongue lodged firmly in cheek]
Is that legitimate and lawful enough for you?
As I pronounce things (much to the dismay/delight of those around me) iSQL would be "I Squeal". Maybe we should name it "iSQL-uSQL".
While what you say is technically correct, it misses the point that all of the current geosynchronous satellites that are in use today will still be in parking orbits in 2029. They don't re-enter geosync birds, they just (try to) boost them into a higher, non-useful parking orbit. As far as the asteroid is concerned, however, they're just as juicy a target, operating or not.
That's funny! When I was in Scotland I mentioned to the guy at a petrol station that our lowest octane 'petrol' was 87. His reply was, "Why, that's paraffin!". Theirs, as I recall, was 95 - RON, MON or (RON + MON)/2, I don't know.
No, physics determined that the iceberg would strike the bow, since it was moving forward.
From the wikipedia article:
It might also come in handy during your yearly review - it would give you useful feedback.
It's good for about 4 hours, 26 minutes, and 40 seconds. On the first day of the month.
Oh noes! I iz Martian virus, infektin yur beaf jurky!
(Solar constant = 1366 W/m2; insolation at surface approx 1000 W/m2; limit according to FCC OET Bulletin 65, Appendix A, Table 1(b) for freqs up to 100GHz (assuming the same limit applies to sunlight) = 1.0 mW/cm2 = 10 W/m2).
If you use the 100W column with 0db, you'll note that the acceptable distances peak between 10m and 1.25m. You body has resonances between those wavelengths, enhancing the absorption of energy. (a quarter wave at 10m is 2.5m, which approaches typical male height. A 50MHz quarter wave is 2m - pretty close to average height and near the center of the absorption peak.)
Supplement B, Appendix A, Table 1 lists the acceptable exposure limits in algebraic form.
Isn't that 'teleffector'? Tele == remote, effector == that which does something?
It was like, totally "Gag me with a backhoe", cause, like spoons were so last week! OMG! Seriously, there seems to have been at least some collective consciousness re: the backhoe - google it; it isn't just me. It was either in a song or a joke that floated around back in the 'dark times'.
I like the valley girl spelling: "Rully, rully kewl. Gag me with a backhoe!"
Indeed. I've seen most of those atrocious examples of stupidity as well. Describing modern car construction techniques as 'monocot' made me laugh. 'Per say' really gets under my skin for some reason. I need to start a wiki where people can add abuses they've seen. Humm.....
Isn't that illegal? Updating firmware to enforce a new EULA that otherwise would not have applied? Sounds Microsoftian to me.