Reflectivity of Pure Metals in Vacuum

In summary, there is a lot of data available online about the reflectivity of aluminum in the atmosphere, but this is often referring to oxidized aluminum. However, in a vacuum, even pure aluminum would be highly reflective, as seen with the James Webb telescope. Unfortunately, building in Earth's atmosphere means these metals will oxidize. Other pure metals such as calcium, magnesium, and titanium would also be highly reflective in a vacuum if they did not oxidize in the atmosphere. There may be a disconnect between the question and the answers found, as sources should be providing accurate information. Work-arounds for working in the atmosphere may be too cumbersome for practical use.
  • #1
jms4
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All data I see online about reflectivity of metals is about aluminum in the atmosphere meaning oxidized aluminum, but pure aluminum in vacuum in case of the James Webb telescope would also be extremely reflective but building it on Earth means it's going to get oxidized, similarly there are a lot of pure metals out there which would be very reflective in vacuum such as calcium or magnesium or titanium if they wouldn't oxidize in the atmosphere. Is there any data about most reflective materials pure materials in vacuum?
 
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  • #2
Do you have an example source you can provide? I feel like there may be a disconnect between the question and the answers you are finding, as a quality source should be giving you exactly what it tells you it is giving you. If it says reflectivity of Al it should be reflectivity of Al, not Al2O3. There are work-arounds to the problem of working in the atmosphere, though they may be too cumbersome to bother with for anything but a scientific investigation.
 

FAQ: Reflectivity of Pure Metals in Vacuum

What is the reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum?

The reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum refers to the amount of light that is reflected off the surface of a pure metal when it is placed in a vacuum environment.

What factors affect the reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum?

The reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum can be affected by several factors including the type of metal, the surface finish of the metal, the angle of incidence of the light, and the wavelength of the light.

How is the reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum measured?

The reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum is typically measured using a spectrophotometer, which measures the amount of light reflected off the metal's surface at different wavelengths.

Why is the reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum important?

The reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum is important in various fields such as optics, astronomy, and materials science. It can also be used to determine the purity and quality of a metal.

How does the reflectivity of pure metals in vacuum compare to other materials?

Pure metals in vacuum typically have high reflectivity compared to other materials. This is due to the fact that they have a high electrical conductivity and a smooth surface, which allows for efficient reflection of light.

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