"LASER SIGHT" ARCHIMEDES

The great ancient scholar Archimedes, who lived two centuries before the birth of Christ, still admire his wisdom and world vision. Greek scholar, who belonged to the famous exclamation "Eureka!", Discovered the fundamental laws of physics, which has added the celestial globe for astronomical observations, for the first time measured the diameter of the Sun and calculated the circumference of the earth, formulated the law of hydrostatics, laid the foundations of mathematics and algebra, and also made a lot of witty invention, known to everyone.

Known and his achievements in military affairs. For example, he designed the successful use of military vehicles against the Roman fleet during the siege of Syracuse.

Or is it a system of mirrors, like a hyperboloid Garina, set fire to enemy ships of the Roman squadron.

Stop! And whether it actually? And if it was, it did how could this happen?

In 213 BC during the Second Punic War, which broke out between Rome and Carthage, the Roman Senate decided to make an immediate and decisive assault on the Federal karfagenyanam Syracuse city, located on the island of Sicily. After Gierona power in Syracuse was transferred to his heir Gieronimu, who immediately joined the Gannibalu. Rome voznamerilsya definitively resolve the question about the winner in a protracted campaign fairly and take possession of Syracuse.

To command the invasion forces had been appointed a talented and ruthless commander Mark Claudius Martsell, which has incredible at first glance the decision: to attack the city from the sea, where the protective walls are low and go to the very edge of the shore. He well remembered that the Athenians at that time failed in solid walls of the city, so decided to attack from the Ionian Sea.

For blockade of Syracuse weaponized Romans 25 thousandth army and bring back the size of its fleet to 150 penter, of which 100 had to build again. Part of the fleet immediately went to Sicily, where the consul Martsell squad 60 ships to blockade of Syracuse.

Plans of Romans and the approaching enemy fleet in Syracuse was known. The guide, along with the military defense of the Hippocratic involved one of the most respected citizens of Syracuse, inventor and scientist, had the inhabitants of different overjoy useful "household" inventions. Archimedes - Hellene strong in spirit and can not tolerate barbaric Rome, therefore, make every effort to help her beloved city.

Roman fleet was commanded Martsella cleaned using the approaches of archers to the walls and then shoot at the nearest distance themselves from the walls with heavy catapult to punch them in the gap. In addition, Martsell ordered to do something like a raft of eight tightly linked by the courts, which had built a wooden tower, towers over the city walls.

But defender was able to fill approaching with high assault ladders Roman ships by heavy stones, lead and iron and is so damaged that they were forced to retreat.

Photo — «"laser Sight" Archimedes»

Plutarch claims that Archimedes using their cars with such great precision metal heavy stones, that they each hit their intended target, as well acted and constructed propelling them to smaller cars. Tell that besieged darted against ships heavy projectiles, fitted with hooks and ropes, through which vessels are attracted to the walls, is lifted upwards to the nose or over the stern, and then dropped sharply, causing them serious injury.

There is also a mention of Archimedes′ the successful application of any incendiary mirrors. But fairness is worth noting that neither Polybius nor Livy or Plutarch to describe the Roman siege of Syracuse did not report the use of thermal weapons.

Only the Greek writer Lukian in the II century AD leads curious details, which then happily seized scientists, philosophers and even the Renaissance artists. According Lukianu, Archimedes built a hexagonal mirror, collected from the small square mirrors, each of which has been enshrined in the joints and driven by chain drive. This angle of rotation of mirrors could pick up in such a way that reflected the sun′s rays focused to a point located on a mirror at a distance of flight arrows. Using such a system of mirrors and Archimedes set fire to Roman ships.

To the Romans it could look like this: when the Arkadiny - external wall Syracuse - has remained about 150 meters, suddenly began unprecedented svetoprestavlenie. AUDIO sheaves brightest light hit the petrified of horror fighters Klavdiya Martsella. At the same time broke the sail and the wooden hull ships. It seemed as if punishable right hand of Zeus befell the Romans. Several ships burned, and at the time the attack did not take place at Syracuse . . .

Another reference is contained in the composition "On the Temperaments famous Roman scholar-physician Galen. Describing the fire, Galen says that the wall building caught fire from the heat of flames, and adds: "In the same way, they say, and Archimedes set fire to the enemy incendiary trireme mirrors. "

Question of the mirrors Archimedes dismantle four years later, the Byzantine scholar Anfimov in the composition on the wonderful arrangements. Surviving fragment of the essays is not only a source, but also the first scientific achievement, brought news of the Archimedean mirrors.

Anfimov even tried to reconstruct the mirrors on the basis of the range, equal bowshot. This distance is a Anfimov one of the conditions of the problem, derived probably from sources that we did not come.

A first look at the problem as a challenge, Byzantine wrote: "Required the distance seemed great, and it seemed impossible to get the ignition, but since no one could challenge the glory of Archimedes, who burnt the ships of the Romans through the reflection of sunlight, it was reasonably assumed that the task could be solved by using the principles outlined below.

Photo — «"laser Sight" Archimedes»

Conclusion Anfimov is:

"With the help of many flat mirrors can reflect a single point such amount of sunlight that the joint effect of causing fire. This experience can be done using large numbers of people, each of which will keep the mirror in the desired position.

But to avoid the bustle and confusion, more convenient to use a frame in which to consolidate 24 separate mirrors with the help of plates, or, better still, on hinges. Substituting this mechanism sunlight, you need to install a central mirror, and then the other, quickly and deftly incline them . . . so that the sun′s rays, reflected the different mirrors were sent to the same point . . . It should be noted that all other authors, who talked about the mirrors divine Archimedes, no one mentioned the mirror, but the many. "

Recent historical reports Archimedean mirrors - also Byzantine - already belong to the XII century.

Then the case took scientists. A lot of time devoted to this subject, and the inventor of French naturalist Georges-Louis Byuffon. After his successful experience of the reality of Archimedean view mirror again.

But over time, work Byuffona have been forgotten, and quietly re-spread opinion of the technical impossibility of the existence of a "laser" Archimedes.

However, the 70-ies of XX century Greek mechanical engineer Ioannis Sakas again has the experience and proven that this is possible. At the port of Athens Skaramanga built several dozen soldiers, each holding a rectangular mirror measuring 91x50 cm at a distance of about 50 meters from the shore had the boat loaded with resin. When prompted, Sacasa soldiers repeatedly raised schitoobraznye mirror - because the scientist was looking for the correct angle to focus the sun′s rays on the boat. And suddenly the boat zadymilas, then flared a bright flame.

In the legends of the mirrors no information contrary to the history of technology or opportunities era Archimedes. The sources referred to the burning ship, but not the burning of the fleet, which does not contradict the story about the assault Polybius Syracuse. After all, fire two or three, even ten ships could significantly affect the course of the Marine attack, in which only heavy ships involved no less than sixty.

With regard to the future of Syracuse, the outbreak of the uprising of other Sicilian cities divert at any time of the Roman troops, and briefly left the Romans in the city alone. But in 212 BC, taking advantage of the city held a celebration, Martsell again began to assault and was able to acquire the upper part of the city. Unfortunately, during the siege and the death of the great scientist Archimedes. An attempt to dislodge the Romans conquered the positions taken by coming to the aid group karfagenyan under the command of Gimilkona, failed. But the Romans were able to conquer the rest of the city just after 8 months .

Photo — «"laser Sight" Archimedes»

. .

The sources referred to the use of mirrors, only against the Navy, although they can cause damage to infantry Appiah is no less than the mariners Martsella, ignite portable shelters, blinded soldiers and firing. Why?

The answer is simple: if you look at the map of Syracuse, it turns out that the position of the sun relative to the battle preclude the use of mirrors against infantry. Foot troops come from Geksapil - gates located in the center of the northern wall of the city, and the sun was behind the backs of their defense. Fleet Martsella, however, attacked Arkadinu area facing east. Here, the sun shining over the sea, and the conditions for the use of mirrors were just the best.

It was only two storming of Syracuse - a day after his failure - night. It was not there to some extent, this decision caused the Romans desire "neutralize" the mirror?

It turns out that the recognition of the legend of the real events did not require revision of the famous picture of the storming of the sources of Syracuse, but only a certain supplement.

And the lack of mention of the mirrors in the sources on the siege of Syracuse, also not a sufficient reason for denying the full basis of real legends. At least, because those ancient authors have been very mistrustful of all sorts of questionable evidence.

On the other hand, if the "laser" Archimedes really existed, then why did the Romans, capturing all of Syracuse against the engineering wonders defender does not want to mirror these same battle?

It was a "laser" or not?

In 1747 the same Byuffon wrote: "The history of fire-mirrors Archimedes is widely known and famous. He invented them to protect their homeland. The ancient saying that he had a solar light on the enemy fleet and drew him into ashes. But the authenticity of the story, which did not doubt for fifteen or sixteen centuries, has recently been questioned or even recognized as fantastic. Descartes denied the possibility of such inventions, and his views to prevail over the testimony of scientists and writers of ancient era . . . "

In the "History of Science" by F. Dannemana, published in 1913, says: "Against attacks fleet besieged fought through the burning Golovnea. Later historians have created this totally unbelievable story that Archimedes lit ships besieging using concave mirrors. " Complete denial of the legend. And many modern physics shares this view.

However, only a few years ago, a group of Italian scientists, after careful mathematical calculations, and study materials related to "laser" Archimedes, published the results, which have been mixed.

On the one hand, the experiments confirmed the vision Archimedes. The researchers arranged to holschovym sail set in the desert, 450 mirrors, the total area of about 20 square meters. Since each of the mirrors with the help of the reflected radiation has raised the temperature of the sails on a half degrees, it really caught fire.

Photo — «"laser Sight" Archimedes»

But the fact that the Roman fleet was really on fire with the help of mirrors, caused too much doubt.

First, the mass of cold air between the mirrors and warships over the cold sea would significantly impair the ability of heating rays.

Secondly, scientists had to wait a few minutes, until light sail. However, all written eyewitness unequivocally assert: the sail and the wooden sheathing of ships erupted almost simultaneously with the flow of light, hlynuvshimi from shore.

Another fact: bronze mirrors were actually discovered during excavations in Syracuse, but the grinding was very imperfect. But ships were not a dozen, and they all fire at once . . .

However, according to Italian researchers, the mirror does exist. But her action actually was not quite so, as is generally assumed. Their light blinded impending enemy ships and then really flared like candles. But not "laser" that was the reason, but all the same "Greek fire" - fire a mixture of resin, sulfur and saltpeter, still unknown when the Romans. "Lighter" darted from catapults on the wall remarkably accurately and efficiently.

According to the Italians, the huge bronze discs, blinding the enemies of the reflected sunlight, served . . . optical sight. More precisely, it could be called a "laser sight". As in the thriller about hired killers. The killer, sitting a few hundred meters away from his victim, gives her a red laser point, and . . . drops hammer.

To develop such a system in ancient times, Archimedes, it was necessary to know two things: bowshot of catapults and the optimal distance at which the human eye is able to distinguish between light-disc casts a mirror on the sail. First, it was perfectly well known to any soldier, the second was easy to determine experimentally, directly on the streets of the city. Then Archimedes designed the thrower, in which the shooter move down the string at a time when the combination of the axis of boom with a solar bunny. All weapons have been calculated taking into account the curvature of the flight the arrow over a distance of 300 cubits. When the fleet approached Martsella at this distance, with mirrors sleteli blankets, thrower brought guns to "target", broke out arrowheads and zazveneli strained string . . .

In conclusion, like the words of Plutarch: "Archimedes was so proud of the science, what about those of their discoveries, which he has gained fame . . . He did not leave any pieces. " This is not entirely accurate, but many of Archimedes′ works, we really do not know, but because there is no guarantee that the future will not have any secret of the great scientist.