# Is it possible to build a "light trap" out of mirrors?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-build-a-light-trap-out-of-mirrors/586241>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 21, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-build-a-light-trap-out-of-mirrors/586241 "2011-06-21T03:05:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-build-a-light-trap-out-of-mirrors/586241/21 "2011-06-21T19:32:25Z")

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> [@CookingWithGas](#):
>
> What’s going on with the cat is what is usually known as [collapse of the wave function](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave_function_collapse). Another way to think of it is that you have the potential to live in a number of possible states but can only live in exactly one of them at a point in time. Before you check on the status of the cat, there are two states of the cat that you could experience. Once you observe the cat the wave function collapses to a single possibility, which is what you experience. You cause the collapse by your observation, but you didn’t interact in any direct way with the cat to keep it alive or cause its death.
> 
> With the photon, if you observe it it hits your retina then it’s just gone, because it’s energy was absorbed to cause a chemical reaction that allowed you to see it. You cannot see a photon without destroying it.

Thanks \*\*CookingWithGas \*\*and \*\*TruCelt \*\*- that helps.

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