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Researchers Prove Existence Of New Type Of Electron Wave

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the welle-of-information dept.

ScienceDaily is reporting that physicists at the University of New Hampshire have discovered the existence of a new type of electron wave on metal surfaces. "The acoustic surface plasmon, which will have implications for developments in nano-optics, high-temperature superconductors, and the fundamental understanding of chemical reactions on surfaces. [...] 'The existence of this wave means that the electrons on the surfaces of copper, iron, beryllium and other metals behave like water on a lake's surface,' says Diaconescu, a postdoctoral research associate in the Condensed Matter Group of the physics department at UNH. 'When a stone is thrown into a lake, waves spread radially in all directions. A similar wave can be created by the electrons on a metal surface when they are disturbed, for instance, by light.'"

6 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. From TFA by Silver+Sloth · · Score: 4, Funny

    If this is the case, it is a great advantage that it is now possible to study the plasmons on surfaces, where they is much easier to probe them than inside the material. I'm sure it are.
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  2. "new" electron wave? by Quarters · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Somehow I doubt the wave is new. It's only our understanding of it that is new.

    1. Re:"new" electron wave? by Markus+Registrada · · Score: 4, Informative

      Somehow I doubt the wave is new. It's only our understanding of it that is new. If you RTFA, you find that what's new is actually detecting evidence of it. Evidence is often (alas, not always) important in science.
  3. Re:Big Claims by grasshoppa · · Score: 4, Informative

    Does it also defeat cancer, cure the common cold, disintegrate warts, and eliminate smelly feet? It seems like a lot of big claims are being made for something just discovered.

    They've had theories for a while, and the theories indicate that some of the properties may be useful for these things. Now that they have established them as fact AND can reproduce them in a lab environment, they can determine if their guesses ( I would put any one of the researchers guesses against a million of yours ) are in any way accurate.

    Science; Gotta love it

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  4. 20 year old news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can anyone explain what's new here? My 20-year old text book on surface physics talks about
    surface plasmons, and I heard about acoustic (bulk) plasmons in my undergrad studies min the mid-90:s.

    What's new, the existence of acoustic plasmons at surfaces?

    I, who have a PhD in surface physics don't care, so I think 99.99% of even slashdot, don't care.

  5. A disturbance... by Anpheus · · Score: 4, Funny

    I sense a great disturbance in the force, as if millions of electrons cried out in waves, and were silenced by destructive interference.