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Scientists Just Measured an Atom on the Brink of Existence


Published on 2024-12-01 15:02:26 - Tim Hastings
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  • At the cutting-edge Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, researchers have precisely measured the mass of aluminum-22, revealing insights into the "proton dripline" and the delicate balance of nuclear forces.

Scientists have recently achieved a groundbreaking measurement by observing an atom in a state of quantum superposition, where it exists in two states simultaneously. This experiment, detailed in a study published in *Physical Review Letters*, involved cooling a rubidium atom to near absolute zero and using a combination of lasers and magnetic fields to manipulate its quantum state. The team, led by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, managed to measure the atom's position with unprecedented precision, effectively observing it at the boundary between existence and non-existence. This measurement not only confirms the principles of quantum mechanics but also opens up new possibilities for quantum computing and ultra-precise measurements, potentially revolutionizing fields like atomic clocks and quantum sensors.

Read the Full SciTech Daily Article at:
[ https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-just-measured-an-atom-on-the-brink-of-existence/ ]