Yes, according to recent scientific findings, light can cause the evaporation of water from its surface without the need for heat.
Discovering Non-Thermal Evaporation
Researchers at MIT have made a groundbreaking discovery, identifying a new phenomenon where light directly causes water to evaporate. This process, dubbed the "photomolecular effect," demonstrates that energy from light can facilitate the transition of water molecules into a gaseous state without first converting that light energy into thermal energy (heat) that warms the bulk water.
Traditionally, evaporation is understood as a process driven by heat, where water molecules gain enough thermal energy to break free from the liquid surface. However, this new research suggests a different mechanism.
Key aspects of this discovery include:
- A New Phenomenon: It challenges the conventional understanding of evaporation as solely heat-driven.
- Direct Light Interaction: Light energy directly influences the water molecules at the surface.
- The Photomolecular Effect: This is the term coined for the light-induced, non-thermal evaporation process.
- Experimental Evidence: The discovery was made using laboratory devices, including experiments involving laser beams to measure this effect.
This finding, reported on April 23, 2024, opens up new avenues for understanding and potentially utilizing evaporation processes, potentially leading to more efficient technologies for applications like desalination or drying.
