I studied physics as an undergrad, but ended up in engineering. I'm even older than Chad, so my physics days were a loong time ago. Even so, I find this kind of thing fascinating, and, well, cool!
Yes, all of this stuff is done in ultra-high vacuum with extremely dilute vapors of the elements in question-- something like one one-billionth the density of air. They're cooled to extremely low temperatures using laser light and weak magnetic fields.
The image produced by A.I. looks more like what John Harrison would've built, hahaha. So, still impressive, I guess... just kidding.
I studied physics as an undergrad, but ended up in engineering. I'm even older than Chad, so my physics days were a loong time ago. Even so, I find this kind of thing fascinating, and, well, cool!
Whew, thanks for that explanation. Asking for a friend -- are the atoms upon which light is being shined in a gas state?
Yes, all of this stuff is done in ultra-high vacuum with extremely dilute vapors of the elements in question-- something like one one-billionth the density of air. They're cooled to extremely low temperatures using laser light and weak magnetic fields.
Wow. And to think this is business-as-usual physics. Amazing!