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Picture of a Single Atom Wins Science Photo Contest
A remarkable photo of a single atom trapped by electric fields has just been awarded the top prize in a well-known science photography competition. The photo is titled "Single Atom in an Ion Trap" and was shot by David Nadlinger of the University of Oxford.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the UK today announced the winning photos of its national science photography competition. Nadlinger's grand prize photo shows an atom as a speck of light between two metal electrodes placed about 2mm (0.078in) apart.
From EPSRC:
When illuminated by a laser of the right blue-violet colour the atom absorbs and re-emits light particles sufficiently quickly for an ordinary camera to capture it in a long exposure photograph. The winning picture was taken through a window of the ultra-high vacuum chamber that houses the ion trap.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Tuesday February 13 2018, @09:39PM
if the laser is tuned to the atom it really doesn't take much to cause an atom to fluoresce. Its just a matter of causing the atom's electrons to jump to higher states.
Think about how much power a laser pointer uses, or a UV flash light that can cause an entire black light poster, and lots of other stuff, to glow. It is not that much.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."