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Quantum Atoms "Dance to Chaos"

Posted August 12, 2008 9:05 AM

From COSMOS magazine - News:

Chaotic behaviour has been observed for the first time in a quantum system of 'frozen' atoms. The controversial finding is an important step in applying classical physical laws to weird quantum systems and could have spin-off benefits in technologies such as electronics and optical fibres. The research, led by Brian Saam from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, U.S., is published in the journal Physical Review Letters. His team examined the properties of atoms in four tubes of xenon exposed to first to a magnetic field, then to a laser beam and radio-wave pulses. This had the result of locking the samples into a crystal lattice that constrained the 'spin' of the atoms. Nuclear spin is a measurement of the direction of spin of the atomic nucleus and its electrons. Spin state may be either 'up' or 'down'.

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Re: Quantum Atoms "Dance to Chaos"

08/13/2008 6:35 AM

So what type of crystal structure was created, was it in line with the system of mineral crystalography?

Spencer.

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Re: Quantum Atoms "Dance to Chaos"

08/13/2008 12:59 PM

A reasonable question (presumably to be answered "yes", at least provisionally). Had this been a peer-reviewed journal instead of a more newsy magazine, I'm sure the answer would have been provided. But don't count on journalists to ask ALL the right questions, eh?

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