Defeat laser speed traps by wearing infrared specs?

[justin81]

Goofy idea, but, in theory could one "see" the laser beams?

[cell21633]

probably not, unless it's aimed directly at you. you probably need a dusty environment to scatter the beam.

[ELVATO]

Couldn't you technically see the gun emitting the beam?

Either way, I don't think this would be practical, especially in the day time. Kinnda like running Night Shot in the day doesn't work out too well.

[zr1]

Couldn't you technically see the gun emitting the beam?

The idea of a laser is that all the light emissions are traveling in the same direction along the path of the beam. On the receiving end, our eyes, as well as cameras, operate on light emissions that enter into the eye (or lens). If you aren't in the path of the beam, then you won't be getting any of the light emissions, and therefore won't see it.

In practice, there is a tiny amount of light scatter at the laser lens itself. If you see somebody with a small laser pointer, you can see the red tip of the laser pointer light up, but you won't see the beam, which is visible light. You do see the laser beam hitting the target, since the light emissions scatter upon hitting the target. In both cases, the part of the light that you see isn't very bright at all. Especially when compared to a situation where the laser is pointed directly at you, in which case it is very bright.

Also, as mentioned, if the beam passes through a cloud/dust/mist, then that will scatter some of the light and we see that, generally looking like the shape of a beam. But what we're actually seeing is not the beam, but the light that's being scattered off the of path of the beam.

[Silverstreak98]

:idea: :idea: :idea: So wear infrared specs and attatch a fog machine to the front of your car???? :idea: :idea: :idea:

[ELVATO]

Couldn't you technically see the gun emitting the beam?

The idea of a laser is that all the light emissions are traveling in the same direction along the path of the beam. On the receiving end, our eyes, as well as cameras, operate on light emissions that enter into the eye (or lens). If you aren't in the path of the beam, then you won't be getting any of the light emissions, and therefore won't see it.

In practice, there is a tiny amount of light scatter at the laser lens itself. If you see somebody with a small laser pointer, you can see the red tip of the laser pointer light up, but you won't see the beam, which is visible light. You do see the laser beam hitting the target, since the light emissions scatter upon hitting the target. In both cases, the part of the light that you see isn't very bright at all. Especially when compared to a situation where the laser is pointed directly at you, in which case it is very bright.

Also, as mentioned, if the beam passes through a cloud/dust/mist, then that will scatter some of the light and we see that, generally looking like the shape of a beam. But what we're actually seeing is not the beam, but the light that's being scattered off the of path of the beam.

Yea, that's what I meant, being able to see the tip of a laser pointer (actually the example I had thought of.)

So I guess that technically, if it's the middle of the night, out in the middle of nowhere, with a car in front of you, and he gets tagged, and you happen to notice the little flashing dot in the distance, you just might get a save.

Basically, not practical.