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Scientists Capture Shadow Cast By 1 Atom

slew writes "Scientist at Griffith University have shown the first absorption image of a single atom isolated in a vacuum. A single atomic ion was confined in an RF Paul trap and the absorption imaged at near wavelength resolution with a phase Fresnel lens. They predict this absorption imaging technique should prove useful in quantum information processing and using the minimum amount of illumination for bio-imaging of light-sensitive samples. Here's a pointer to the paper."

12 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. Re:RF Paul trap? by zill · · Score: 5, Informative

    Radio Frequency Paul trap, also known as an ion trap, is named after its inventor Wolfgang Paul. But thanks for derailing the discussion.

  2. Well, SURE it was cool; but by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

    The atom was Jumbonium.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Well, SURE it was cool; but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      For those interested, it was actually - Ytterbium

  3. Re:The important question is... by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do I look fat with this electron?

    No, but you might want to shed a few Higgs-Bosons.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  4. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of atoms? by PTBarnum · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will the evil scientist RF Paul succeed in trapping our hero? Tune in next week!

  5. Schrodinger's cat by Grayhand · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oddly enough the shadow resembled a cat's paw. A relieved cat insisted he wasn't responsible for changing the results of the experiment and was unconcerned about the gun pointed towards his head throughout the test.

  6. Re:atom bomb, shmatom momb by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 4, Funny

    Looks like you didn't notice that Einsteinium atom in the background sticking its tongue out.

  7. Re:Previously Smallest Shadow by aevan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Um, no duh they treat the Higgs-Boson like a religious event: it holds mass fer christ's sake!!

  8. Re:Previously Smallest Shadow by instagib · · Score: 4, Funny

    I fail

    You got that right.

    Call me dumb

    No, because on this site we try to avoid redundant posts.

  9. Re:The important question is... by jo_ham · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do I look fat with this electron?

    Negative.

  10. Re:Previously Smallest Shadow by schroedingers_hat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's a damn sight more exciting, and memorable than one group of people being slightly better at kicking/throwing/chasing a ball than another group of people that evening -- and I've seen people cry, yell, shout, scream, and beat the shit out of anyone who doesn't agree with their reaction in response to sports.

  11. Shopped by Delarth799 · · Score: 3, Funny

    That looks shopped.. you can tell by the pixels.