raysand

Raysand is a fictional material described in speculative science fiction and theoretical discussions of energy materials. The name blends "ray" from radiation with "sand," reflecting its granular, sand-like form in these concepts.

In these descriptions, raysand is a silica-based substrate engineered to interact with electromagnetic radiation. It is imagined to absorb photons and trap their energy within a microstructured matrix, allowing storage of radiant energy and on-demand release under external stimulation. Proponents attribute to raysand properties such as high optical efficiency, low thermal loss, and the ability to guide light through complex pathways, effectively acting as a light-based energy reservoir.

Real-world physics has not demonstrated a material with these capabilities, and there is no experimental evidence for raysand. The concept faces theoretical and engineering challenges, including achieving high energy density, maintaining metastable states, and scaling production of a uniform, stable substance.

In fictional contexts, raysand is used as a component in solar energy devices, photonic computers, or adaptive camouflage systems that manipulate light. Some theoretical treatments treat raysand as a metamaterial or photonic crystal integrated into energy and sensing architectures.

Etymology and usage: The term is a portmanteau of rays and sand; it appears variably across works and discussions, but it remains outside established material science.