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Phoenix666 writes:

Scientists have found a way to study finer details of electron motion through a material using flawed diamonds:

researchers studied Johnson noise, otherwise known as white noise. In a metal, there is a sea of electrons that is free to travel around in constant motion—the fact that the temperature is above absolute zero is enough to keep electrons in motion. Because of this motion, the density of electrons varies slightly from place to place at any given time. These fluctuations create small attractive and repulsive forces that drive electrons to attempt to neutralize the fields. In doing so, they create new density fluctuations and fields in an endlessly repeating cycle.
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How could you possibly observe this behavior in detail? Using impure diamonds, as it turns out. I've discussed nitrogen vacancies in diamond in the past. Essentially, a carbon atom likes to be surrounded by four other carbon atoms. Nitrogen, on the other hand, only likes to have three atoms around it. If nitrogen is substituted for one of the carbon atoms, it cruelly rejects one of its neighbors. The electron proffered by the carbon atom is left stranded between a cold and uninviting nitrogen atom and a carbon atom that would sooner be rid of it. The nature of these surroundings gives the electron a very well-defined energy level structure, creating what is called an NV- center.

The technique is thought to have practical relevance for the design and fabrication of semiconductor circuits.