Hydrothermal vents: a novel theory of illumination

Abstract

There are many theories revolving around the source of non-thermally based visible light emissions from deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Although many of these theories have been proven possible in a controlled laboratory environment, none have been directly linked to hydrothermal vents through on-site experimentation and evaluation. Nor have any of them conclusively lain to rest the unanswerable and unpredictable source and exact circumstances of this mysterious light. Visible light has been shown to occur in larger than background concentrations intermittently at both black smokers and beehives, in the presence and absence of mineral emissions, and just above and below vent openings. This behavior cannot be explained by crystalloluminescence, triboluminescence, or even chemiluminescence where illumination is dependent on specific physical characteristics of the vent which cannot guarantee the presence or absence of visible light anomalies. These theories are also not restricted to just the vent openings, as many of the physical requirements occur beyond the vent and, in some cases, into the plume. A novel theory of hydrothermal vent illumination by way of amplified C/spl caron/erenkov radiation through internal plume reflection will be presented. This theory includes the already known creation of visible light by muons in seawater created by the bombardment of the Earth by extraterrestrial neutrinos. When these particles enter seawater directly or through collision, they produce a lagging wave of visible light known as C/spl caron/erenkov radiation. This lagging wave, like normal visible light, can be trapped and magnified, as in C/spl caron/erenkov radiation detectors. The large variation in density between exiting plume emission and surrounding seawater may be enough to trap visible light within the base of the plume itself making the visible light from C/spl caron/erenkov radiation appear to be brighter than the surrounding seawater. The variation and unpredictability of extraterrestrial muons in the deep ocean may help account for the appearance, disappearance, and reappearance of light at some hydrothermal vents. It would also help explain the presence of illumination in a variety of hydrothermal vents and differing plume emission. Taking known data and theory from actual visits to deep sea hydrothermal vents combined with known data of present theories of illumination and experimentation, a composite holistic view of this quandary will be evaluated, and a theoretical written model will be composed. This new theory hopes to satisfy data obtained on-site at the hydrothermal vents by previous study, as well as attempt to bring some sort of closure to the unpredictable and mysterious question of hydrothermal vent illumination.