Re: Valentine/WSP (low Audi content)

[e6941tb@ix.netcom.com]

Armstead, Brian wrote:
> 
> Igor:  In trying to translate your answer, are you saying that the V1
> will not be able to pick up a signal if the police are shooting the guy
> one or two cars in front of you??

Yes, the coherent light beam (aka "laser") propagates in a straight line 
in a very narrow volumetric (cone) angle, around 3° total - hence it can 
be aimed so accurately (like on your lisense plate, for example).

Its scattering is negligeble. The decrement of decay of the scattered 
light in the air (especially if the air is damp) is fairly high (light 
intensity I at any given point at a distance l is lineary proportional to 
Io at the source times e in power [negative chi times l], where chi is 
the decrement of decay for a given medium, i.e. it decays exponentially 
fast). The result - almost no chance to be forwarned by a stray signal at 
a distance, sufficient for timely braking.
Alas, practice shows that if you cought it on your laser detector, you 
have already been zapped.
IMHO a laser detector has a merely educational value: "look, honey, we've 
been busted by a laser. Ain't technology wonderful!".
BTDT once. Two years ago on the Ohio Turnpike, en route to see our 
friends in Shi-ka-goo, my wife took the most expensive photograph in my 
life - of my speedo reading 200kmh (it cost me $67 in fines). Was I glad 
that I did not wind up in handcuffs, spending the Turky Day in some Ohio 
bed'n'breakfast with a lovely view from the window on a gridded sky!
I murmured something to the cop, like *no, not me, officer, I never 
exceed the posted speed limits*, when I saw the expression on the kid's 
face (he was about 20), when he looked inside and scrutinised my car with 
the eyes, wide open. What I saw through his eyes was a red turbo beast on 
MOMOs with low profiles, with a small steering wheel, aluminium pedals, 
boost and mixture gauges on the torpedo, a radar detector and me, 
tightened to a Recaro by a 4-point harness and wearing gloves. A *carrer 
speeder* was written all over my forhead. And I was bleeting something 
about obeying the speed limits! I just shut up and forked over the 
lisense for execution.

Sorry if I ruined somebody's high, laser-detector-related, aspirations.
BTW, the first thing that I've done upon returning home? Got myself a CB 
radio! Had no tickets ever since (sez he, knocking on the head, eeer, 
wood that is).

-- 
Igor Kessel
'89 200TQ - 18psi (TAP)
'98 A4TQ - on order
Philadelphia, PA
USA