Why do you see a blue glow inside of a reactor? | International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

25K views · 699 reactions | What’s that blue glow surrounding a reactor? It’s a phenomenon known as Cherenkov Radiation when electrically charged particles, such as protons or electrons, travel faster than light in a clear medium like water. | U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy | Facebook

We are often taught that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. This is true in a vacuum (like space). The universal speed limit, c, is unbreakable. But in a material like water, light actually slows down. In water, light travels at about 75% of its vacuum speed. This creates a loophole for high-energy particles. In nuclear reactors, subatomic particles (like electrons) are often ejected at speeds that are incredibly fast—faster than the speed of light *in water* (though still slower

The Cherenkov effect, also known as Cherenkov radiation, is the emission of light when a charged particle travels through a dielectric medium at a speed greater than the speed of light in that medium. This phenomenon is analogous to a sonic boom, where a shockwave of sound is produced when an object surpasses the speed of sound. Follow @thatisnewton ,All credits to respective creators/owners. DM for credits/removal | Thatis Newton