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.'"

Comments

Re:What are the implications of this discovery?

[ColdWetDog]

Well THAT just got you modded up.

Again.

Sometimes (especially on Fridays) who can't win.

Re:TFA says "18 microseconds", not "18 seconds"

[Sir_Lewk]

Mathematical symbols would be super handy on a site that claims to appeal to nerds though.

whats worse than telling an unfunny joke?

[circletimessquare]

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