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MIT team creates ultracold molecules

Researchers successfully cooled sodium potassium molecules to a temperature just above absolute zero, creating exotic states of matter with strong dipole moments. The ultracold molecules exhibited long lifetimes and resisted reactive collisions, paving the way for new discoveries in quantum mechanics.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 10, 2015

Quantum simulator gives clues about magnetism

A team of researchers using a quantum simulator discovered that ultracold atoms can switch from non-interacting to strongly interacting in just one millisecond. The study found that this rapid change is due to diffusion, which affects the magnetism of the atoms.

SourceCIFAR·JournalScience·DateMay 15, 2014

Good vibrations

Scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley have made the first direct observations of distinctly quantum optical effects - amplification and squeezing - in an optomechanical system. The findings point toward low-power quantum optical devices and enhanced detection of gravitational waves.

Ultracold experiments heat up quantum research

Researchers at the University of Chicago experimentally demonstrate quantum criticality in ultracold atoms, a phenomenon that may connect the atomic realm to deep questions of cosmology. This breakthrough could lead to simulations of the early universe by studying systems in states of quantum criticality.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience·DateMar 16, 2012

JQI physicists demonstrate coveted 'spin-orbit coupling' in atomic gases

Physicists at JQI successfully demonstrated spin-orbit coupling in a gas of bosonic rubidium atoms, opening new possibilities for studying fundamental physics. The technique also showed promise for creating novel interactions between fermions, which could lead to breakthroughs in topological quantum computation and superconductivity.

World's tiniest mirror

Researchers design and characterize a field-switchable nanomagnetic atom mirror, which can manipulate atoms by applying magnetic fields. The technology could be applied to devices that trap and confine atoms, potentially leading to breakthroughs in quantum computing.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateAug 10, 2010

Ultra-cold chemistry

Researchers directly observe chemical exchange processes in an ultracold sample of cesium atoms and Feshbach molecules, allowing for controlled study of chemical reactions. This breakthrough opens a new avenue to study diverse chemical reactions using ultracold quantum gases.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 2, 2010

From three to four: A quantum leap in few-body physics

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck experimentally prove the existence of four-body loss resonances closely tied to Efimov trimer states, providing strong evidence for these new universal states. This achievement marks an important step towards simplifying laws for complex interactions in few-body physics.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 7, 2009