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Rydberg Molecule Created For the First Time
krou writes "The BBC is reporting that the Rydberg molecule has been formed from two atoms of rubidium. Proven in theory, this is the first time it's been created, reinforcing the fundamental quantum theories of Enrico Fermi. Chris Greene, the theoretical physicist who first predicted that the Rydberg molecules could exist, said: 'The Rydberg electron resembles a sheepdog that keeps its flock together by roaming speedily to the outermost periphery of the flock, and nudging back towards the centre any member that might begin to drift away.' It's a sheepdog with a very short life-span, however; the longest lived molecule only lasted 18 microseconds. Vera Bendkowsky, who led the research, explained how they created the molecule: 'The nuclei of the atoms have to be at the correct distance from each other for the electron fields to find each other and interact. We use an ultracold cloud of rubidium — as you cool it, the atoms in the gas move closer together. We excite the atoms to the Rydberg stage with a laser. If we have a gas at the critical density, with two atoms at the correct distance that are able to form the molecule, and we excite one to the Rydberg state, then we can form a molecule.'"
'Nuff said.
They really are short lived. 18 seconds would be an eternity for them, apparently.
(So, the summary here presently says "the longest lived molecule only lasted 18 seconds." whereas the article says "the longest lived Rydberg molecule survives for just 18 microseconds." Rather large difference.)
Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
The purpose of that site was not known.
Try 18 microseconds...
Just a quick correction here, the molecule did not survive 18 seconds. Here's the text from the article: "This ultracold experiment is also ultra-fast - the longest lived Rydberg molecule survives for just 18 microseconds. "
If you modulate an inverse tachion beam you should be able to get the same results.
"Captain, I canna hold the DiRubidium together any longer..."
My first Journal Entry ever, in 8 years! http://slashdot.org/journal/365947/aphelion-scifi-fantasy-horror-poetry-webzine
"...We use an ultracold cloud of rubidium â" as you cool it, the atoms in the gas move closer together. We excite the atoms to the Rydberg stage with a laser. If we have a gas at the critical density, with two atoms at the correct distance that are able to form the molecule, and we excite one to the Rydberg state, then we can form a molecule."
Uhhh, yeah, what he said.
18 seconds or 18 microseconds? Could mean the difference between winning or losing the purse at the first-ever electron bull rodeo...
I RTFA, but can someone more well-versed in Physics explain what sort of implications this has?
Does it validate some kind of Quantum Mechanics theory?
Does it have any practical application, either now or in the distant future?
... but if I remember it correctly, Rydberg molecules have been found in interstellar clouds where both matter density and temperature are very low compared to on-Earth laboratory environments. In space, they are not subjected to frequent interaction with other atoms, which could easily destroy their fragile Rydberg states.
Colorless green Cthulhu waits dreaming furiously.
Error detected. All news stories of esoteric pure science experiments must conclude, "Spokesman for the lab, Dr Sor Eass, said that this phenomenon could lead to faster computers in the next five to ten years."
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
AC writes
"The WWW is reporting that this post has been formed from two atoms of frostidium. Proven in theory, this is the first time it's been created, reinforcing the fundamental quantum theories of Enrico Palonzo. Chris Rock, the theoretical comedian who first predicted that the frosty molecules could exist, said: 'The AC's post resembles a sheepdog that bangs its master by roaming speedily to the outermost periphery of the flock, and nudging back towards the centre of the owner's derriere.' It's a sheepdog with a very short life-span, however; the longest lived molecule only lasted 18 seconds. Vera BendmeOverkowsky, who led the research, explained how they created the molecule: 'The nuclei of the atoms have to be at the correct distance from each other for the electron fields to yadda yadda yadda. We use an ultracold cloud of frostidium -- as you cool it, the atoms in the flatulated gas move closer together. We excite the atoms to the AC stage with pictures of goatse man photoshopped into a picture of a naked and petrified Natalie Portman on the beach. If we have flatulence at the critical density, with two atoms at the correct distance that are able to form the molecule, and we excite one to the AC state, then we can form a molecule.'"
Yeah, these molecules are super short-lived. So to enjoy it better, you need to preserve it by baking into rye bread. Dark, marbled kind is the best. Lasts a week. I recommend roast beef with it.
"Unimaginably cold temperatures are needed to create the molecules, as Vera Bendkowsky from the University of Stuttgart who led the research explained."
If you can't even imagine the cold temperatures, how can they get it cold enough? Shenanagins
Man, that's just not fair. It was hard enough when my beagle only lived for 12 years. Now my wife will never want a pet Rydberg!
I've done a little research using Scholar (Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2458 - 2461 (2000)) and it seems that basic facts about Rydberg molecules are: 1) These are molecules made of two atoms of the same kind, enormously separated (minima of potential curves for example at about 1500 atomic units); 2) Because of extremly shallow minima of energy curve in witch they exist, they are unstable, so must be ultra cold; 3) This Rb_2 molecule despite being homonuclear, displays large dipole moment, which is unusual but predicted by theory. The experiment with rubidium described here proves that approximate quantum theory (I bet that existence of this molecule was predicted using Born-Oppenheimer approximation) is capable of describing effects subtle as this one (existence of Rb_2 Rydberg molecule is subtle one). I'm not an expert in relativistic effects, but it seems to me that this example of extremely distant separation of atoms in molecule could call for relativistic treatment: one Rb atom doesn't know of the other at once, because the information about the movement of the other can't travel faster than light. This effect may be big because of separation of these two atoms.
Call me naive, but I predict all kinds of weird physics as one approach absolute zero.
AC
If you can't even imagine the cold temperatures, how can they get it cold enough?
They use the guy who totally lacks imagination to set it up. There's at least one in every lab...
You can do anything if you literal-minded enough and have someone to tell you what impossible thing to do. :-)
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
telling a joke and being taken seriously
happened to me yesterday: i make a stupid joke about skynet, and apparently someone thinks i was insightful
http://tech.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1209623&cid=27693127
wtf? its disturbing to be modded insightful for this. who the hell thinks i was being insightful? why?!
its like going fishing and catching a dead baby. you made the joke for a little fun, and instead you get a horrible line of thought: someone out there is deadly serious about light hearted mirth
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
...all those nubile, hot young physics groupies...
Scientist: "Hah! well mine is 100 nanometers!, and can go on for up to 18 microseconds"
All those nubile, hot young physics groupies: "Ohhhh my! That is so large! And lasts so long!"
Scientist: "Now who's your Daddy?"
All those nubile, hot young physics groupies: *squeals of delight, desire, adulation, and one porcine*
Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
they have confirmed a fundamental quantum theory that has been widely accepted, so now that they have proven the theory, this means....?
or even better
INSIGHTFUL and INFORMATIVE ;-)
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
"We excite the atoms to the Rydberg stage with a laser. If we have a gas at the critical density, with two atoms at the correct distance that are able to form the molecule, and we excite one to the Rydberg state, then we can form a molecule."
I get it - this is the first subatomic porn!
I read "18 seconds" and thought, that is a DAMN DAMN long time in terms of weird particle lifetimes go.
as if humor is somehow less important on a website which is essentially nothing more than a giant time waster
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Atoms with a single electron in their outermost shell bond. Sounds like hydrogen H2.