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- Title
Study of color variation in the Phanaeus kirbyi beetle at low temperature.
- Authors
Flemming, J.; Feola, L. A.; Lavino, A. S.
- Abstract
We analyzed the color change of the exoskeleton of the Phanaeus kirbyi beetle when it is cooled from room temperature to 5K. A blue shift of about 10nm was expected, due to the contraction of helical structures that would be responsible for the circular Bragg reflection and the consequent circularly polarized light observed in the insect. The expected shift to blue cannot be confirmed, as the RGB analysis showed nonspectral colors. However, a darkening of the exoskeleton with cooling can be observed and a didactic explanation of several possible physical causes for this is given. Surprisingly, atomic force microscopy images, taken at room temperature, do not show any helical structures in Phanaeus kirbyi.
- Subjects
BEETLES; LOW temperatures
- Publication
Latin-American Journal of Physics Education, 2022, Vol 16, Issue 2, p1
- ISSN
1870-9095
- Publication type
Article