Photon emission accompanying deformation and fracture of ice

We observed photon emission during deformation and fracture of axially loaded polycrystalline ice. Emission of visible photons (300-650 nm) was correlated with crack generation and fracture, based on time-resolved photon emission signals taken during load changes. Emission intensity, including the entire spectra ranging from 300 to 650 nm, was roughly correlated with increasing strain energy released by fracturing, while considerable scattering of the intensity data implied that emission intensity also depended on the characteristics of each individual crack. Correlation was taken between simultaneous emissions detected with two photomultiplier tubes with different ranges of spectral sensitivity. Brief, intense emissions were clearly associated with load drops, and these probably included wavelengths shorter than 320 nm, indicating that near ultraviolet light is also emitted. On the other hand, weak but continuous signals with wavelengths longer than 650 nm were emitted the entire time the ice was subjected to a load. Emission intensity and spectra may be attributed to microprocesses during fracturing. Experimental evidence for emission of visible photons indicates that the generated electric charges on crack surfaces and at crack tips have energy ranging from 2 to 6 eV.

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