Single-atom Laser Built at Caltech

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Single-atom Laser Built at Caltech

Posted by Hemos on Monday September 22, 2003 @03:47AM from the one-atom-long dept.

hweimer writes "A research group at Caltech has successfully constructed a laser consisting of only one caesium atom. The emitted light is very weak but highly ordered, so such a device may be used to control a quantum computer. More on this can be found at PhysicsWeb."

26 of 232 comments (clear)

Begging the question: by Anonymous Coward · 2003-09-22 03:48 · Score: 5, Funny

How big are the sharks?
Wow by stratjakt · 2003-09-22 03:49 · Score: 4, Funny

Hooray

Quantum computers, sure. I bet they'll even run Duke Nuk'Em Forever lan parties over IPv6.

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1. Re:Wow by EulerX07 · 2003-09-22 04:20 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  SCIENTIST : With this you could create a Quantum computer.
  
  ENGINEER : Uhhm, it's not that simple...
  
  SLASHDOTTER : Yes it is! Keep up please!
2. Re:Wow by poot_rootbeer · 2003-09-22 04:59 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Quantum computers, sure. I bet they'll even run Duke Nuk'Em Forever lan parties over IPv6.
  
  They might, they might not...
3. Re:Wow by killthiskid · 2003-09-22 06:28 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Or they could both be running and not running the game at the same time!
  
  No one will know until they open up the door to the room where the lan party may or may not be taking place.
But the bigger question is.. by inteller · 2003-09-22 03:50 · Score: 4, Funny

Will this incinerate ants better than my trusty magnifying glass?
Wow by CaptBubba · 2003-09-22 03:52 · Score: 5, Funny

This is simply amazing. I'm trying to picture all the machinery and people that went into getting that one atom to light up.
And now the physicists hand the engineers the huge task: "Ok, we got it to work, you get it to do something usefull"
Not big enough. by caluml · 2003-09-22 03:55 · Score: 5, Funny

I want a laser that can burn a 200 metre-wide hole through the moon from Earth.
What's that you say? Why? What do you mean, why?

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1. Re:Not big enough. by sharkey · 2003-09-22 04:15 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I want a laser that can burn a 200 metre-wide hole through the moon from Earth.
  Or at least criss-cross campus leading co-eds to the sign it's lighting proclaiming one BITCHIN' pool party.
  
  --
  
  --
  "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
Nope. Sorry. by FreeLinux · 2003-09-22 03:55 · Score: 5, Funny

But, it may prove useful in surgery on ants and may even be used for tatoo removal on ants. This is especially important for those ants who now regret the indiscretions of their teenage years.
Friggin parameciums by Unknown+Poltroon · 2003-09-22 03:58 · Score: 5, Funny

with frigin lazers on their heads.

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So... by e_lehman · 2003-09-22 03:58 · Score: 3, Funny

How do you put an "on" switch on a cesium atom?
Finally, I have the weapon I need ... by burgburgburg · 2003-09-22 03:59 · Score: 4, Funny

to conquer the Nanobot world. I WILL rule in Nanobotia. Benevolently, but firmly.
But should even one of those Nanobots cross me, ZZAPP!
Cesium in quantum computers... by DrEldarion · 2003-09-22 04:00 · Score: 4, Funny

Cesium in your computer, huh?

Now there's a good reason not to spill coffee at your desk...

-- Dr. Eldarion --
Re:Rubbish by grub · 2003-09-22 04:01 · Score: 5, Funny

why does every science experiment have to throw in buzzwords such as "may be use in quantum computers" or "may help a cure for cancer"

A 12 gauge shotgun could be used in cancer treatments. Of course making sure you only blast out the cancer cells is the really hard part.

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Trolling is a art,
Imagine? by Slicebo · 2003-09-22 04:01 · Score: 5, Funny

Can you imagine what you could make with a Beowulf cluster of these?

A FLASHLIGHT!
I don't know by panurge · 2003-09-22 04:03 · Score: 3, Funny

Some of the ruby rods we were getting in the early 80s were such poor quality, I wouldn't be surprised if they were single atom lasers. Pity we didn't know it would one day be leading edge research.
I know, I know, I actually read the article. I can remember when lasers were interesting, before they were just cheap modern replacements for phonograph needles.

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Re:laser by Ayaress · 2003-09-22 04:03 · Score: 3, Funny

Yeah, because we all know how much the army needs to blow up those goddamn hydrogen nucleii.
At home with the amoeba by Channard · 2003-09-22 04:05 · Score: 5, Funny

A 12 gauge shotgun could be used in cancer treatments. Of course making sure you only blast out the cancer cells is the really hard part.
Well, that's where the nano-rednecks come in.
Like this by Anonymous Coward · 2003-09-22 04:09 · Score: 3, Funny

/--------\ Cesium atom ---- Internet ---> quantum computing \--------/ Obviously you've never written a business proposal before.
1. Re:Like this by orthogonal · 2003-09-22 04:19 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  > /--------\ > Cesium atom ---- Internet ---> quantum computing > \--------/ > Obviously you've never written a business proposal > before. No, obviously YOU have not. The proper proposal looks like this: /--------\ Collect underpants ---> Cesium atom ---- Internet ---> ??? ---> quantum computing \--------/
  
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Thanks a lot by arnie_apesacrappin · 2003-09-22 04:31 · Score: 5, Funny

QM just took an interesting step forward.
Now that you've told us where QM is, we'll never know how fast it's progressing.

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Nightmare finding the replacement parts ... by Spectre · 2003-09-22 05:17 · Score: 5, Funny

Given the state of my desk, I'll never be able to find the hot-swap spare atom ...

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Thinkgeek.com by Fubar411 · 2003-09-22 05:30 · Score: 4, Funny

How long until ThinkGeek puts up a banner ad for single atom green lasers?
1. Re:Thinkgeek.com by Walt+Dismal · 2003-09-22 05:52 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  You think that's bad, this morning already I've had 4 popup ads for the X10 Single-Atom Laser.
Sandpaper by Julian+Morrison · 2003-09-22 09:06 · Score: 4, Funny

Having an exoskeleton simplifies tattoo removal. You just need an extremely small piece of fine-grained sandpaper...