New scientific research reveals diamonds aren't forever

• TA wrote on 2011-07-20 02:13

  [Image: http://cdn.physorg.com/newman/gfx/news/2011/mildren-diamondsweb.jpg]

  
  
  July 18, 2011
  (PhysOrg.com) -- In a paper published in the US journal Optical Materials Express this week, Macquarie University researchers show that even the earth's hardest naturally occurring material, the diamond, is not forever.
  
  Associate Professor Richard Mildren and his colleagues from the Macquarie University Photonics Research Centre discovered that diamonds evaporate under exposure to light.
  
  "Although this type of light-induced evaporation has been observed in some materials, this is the first time it's been shown to occur for diamond," Mildren said.
  
  The diamonds were exposed to intense light pulses in the UV-C band (the harsh ultraviolet rays filtered out by the ozone layer), and small pits in the diamond surface were visible after only a few seconds. The rate of mass loss in the diamond fell notably for lower light levels but the etching process still continued - albeit at a slower and slower pace, Mildren said.
  
  But before diamond lovers around the world start to panic, he is quick to note that the rate of evaporation is very small and not noticeable under normal conditions. In fact, even under very bright UV conditions, such as intense sunlight or under a UV tanning lamp, it would take approximately the age of the universe - about 10 billion years - to see an observable distance, he said.
  
  The findings not only provide clues about the long-term stability of diamonds, but also have broad implications for future research.
  
  "It's a very practical discovery and we are now looking at how we can exploit this," Mildren said.
  
  "If we can make structures in the diamonds that enable us to control the position of the light within a very narrow filament in the diamond, that's the first step to making smaller and more efficient optical devices such as those used in quantum computing and high performance lasers."
  
  The discovery may also have implications as far reaching as the prospects for finding diamonds on the surface of other planets, Mildren said.
  
  More information: Mildren, R. P. et al. Opt. Mater. Express 1, 576-585 (2011).
  
  Provided by Macquarie University
  Source: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-07-scientific-reveals-diamonds-arent.html

  
  
  rofl... Diamonds aren't forever! :lol:
• EndlessDreams wrote on 2011-07-20 02:25
  Oh no, diamonds are no longer forever, and only have an expiration date of 10 billion years! What will it do to the diamond industry?!
• ZazieTheBeast wrote on 2011-07-20 02:27
  there are to many diamonds in the world anyway
• Mrlucky77 wrote on 2011-07-20 02:29
  It will slowly return to the all-natural pure carbon industry.
• chaolin wrote on 2011-07-20 02:52
  Wasn't this always true due to entropy? Still, this is quite useful for diamond-based tools requiring sharp points and what-not.
• Sleeperdial wrote on 2011-07-20 03:04
  Wait, I'm not seeing how this is a good thing. Can someone explain it to me?
  /sciencenub
• Andy-Buddy wrote on 2011-07-20 03:15
  They burn too, you know...
• Chillax wrote on 2011-07-20 03:22
  Looks like diamond sellers will need to change their "Diamonds are forever" catchphrase in their commercials.
• Mama wrote on 2011-07-20 03:42

  Quote from Chillax;518820:

  Looks like diamond sellers will need to change their "Diamonds are forever" catchphrase in their commercials.

  
  Diamonds are forever*
  
  [SIZE="1"]*virtually[/SIZE]
• Shirayuki wrote on 2011-07-20 03:48
  Good thing BMTH already knew this ahuehuehue
  
  But I guess that's interesting. Too bad it takes billions of years for it to make a visible difference.
• Cucurbita wrote on 2011-07-20 05:37
  Umm what.
  
  I knew this like 6 years ago. My science teacher taught me this.
  
  How is it a new research?
• Mama wrote on 2011-07-20 06:05

  Quote from Cucurbita;519005:

  Umm what.
  
  I knew this like 6 years ago. My science teacher taught me this.
  
  How is it a new research?

  
  a lot of sciencey stuff has headlines like this
  
  like scientists 'discovering' that fat isn't as bad as the government makes it out to be
  har harhar
• Ithiliel wrote on 2011-07-21 10:46
  Geologically speaking, diamonds aren't worth jack-****. Seriously. The only reason diamonds cost so much is because people seem to have this belief that diamonds are worth a **** ton so of course they want one. Diamonds are seriously only valuable because people demand them.
  
  Sapphires and Rubies are, in reality, much more valuable then a piece of **** diamond will ever be.
• TA wrote on 2011-07-21 14:15
  Well, they are useful for cutting instruments as well as optical devices.
  
  Though as far as jewels go, I think a piece of glass cut up like a diamond would be just as pretty. People are just stupid.
  
  Cubic zirconia or moissanite all the way.
• Jelly wrote on 2011-07-21 14:25
  Ah. So that's why my Diamond pickaxe broke.