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from the itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-tweezers dept.
In a first for quantum physics, University of Otago researchers have "held" individual atoms in place and observed previously unseen complex atomic interactions.
[...] "Two atoms alone can't form a molecule, it takes at least three to do chemistry. Our work is the first time this basic process has been studied in isolation, and it turns out that it gave several surprising results that were not expected from previous measurement in large clouds of atoms," says Postdoctoral Researcher Marvin Weyland, who spearheaded the experiment.
For example, the researchers were able to see the exact outcome of individual processes, and observed a new process where two of the atoms leave the experiment together. Until now, this level of detail has been impossible to observe in experiments with many atoms.
The ability to control matter at this level promises advances in many fields.
More information: L. A. Reynolds et al. Direct Measurements of Collisional Dynamics in Cold Atom Triads, Physical Review Letters (2020). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.073401
(Score: 3, Interesting) by coolgopher on Friday February 21 2020, @04:27AM
I read it as there needing to be three atoms in presence in order for two to bond, like needing to have a catalyst present. I have no idea whether that's the appropriate reading as TFA didn't elucidate on that part.