Rydberg Molecule Created For the First Time 127
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.'"
First Molecule! (Score:5, Funny)
'Nuff said.
Well (Score:2, Funny)
If you modulate an inverse tachion beam you should be able to get the same results.
Re:TFA says "18 microseconds", not "18 seconds" (Score:5, Funny)
What's seven orders of magnitude between friends?
18 microseconds here, 18 microseconds there, before you know it, we're going to be wasting a lot of time!
...Here all week, veal, etc.
Scotty! (Score:4, Funny)
"Captain, I canna hold the DiRubidium together any longer..."
Re:Well (Score:3, Funny)
Smart and Smarter... (Score:4, Funny)
"...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...
Error detected. Oblig End Piece missing. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:What are the implications of this discovery? (Score:4, Funny)
Inexpesnive flying cars and effective robot wives.
Re:TFA says "18 microseconds", not "18 seconds" (Score:5, Funny)
The bundle of perl scipts known as Slashcode don't support UTF8 text, or really anything beyone 1960s ASCII. While it would be nice to update slashdot to the current millenium, it's not physically possible to maintain perl code so we're stuck with it.
Re:What are the implications of this discovery? (Score:5, Funny)
Now if they had created Zoidberg molecules, the implications would be huge, particularly in the realm of Decapodian cell biology.
Re:Smart and Smarter... (Score:4, Funny)
18 seconds or 18 microseconds.
Sounds like some Verizon math to me.
Can't be done (Score:4, Funny)
If you can't even imagine the cold temperatures, how can they get it cold enough? Shenanagins
Re:TFA says "18 microseconds", not "18 seconds" (Score:2, Funny)
And they need to get on that, because I really want to use snowman and jolly roger unicode symbols in my posts!
Re:What are the implications of this discovery? (Score:4, Funny)
Robot wives is an oxymoron. Robots are logical wives are illogical. Therefore no robot will ever replace the wife. Mistress maybe. Though if it lasts only 18 seconds I have my doubts.
Re:TFA says "18 microseconds", not "18 seconds" (Score:4, Funny)
What's seven orders of magnitude between friends?...
That's what I always tell the ladies. I mean, 10 inches, 10 micro inches... same thing right? Right...?
-Taylor
Re:What are the implications of this discovery? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Can't be done (Score:5, Funny)
Say your temperature is -64 degrees.
Now take the square root of that.
What you have left is a temperature of 8i degrees.
So we have an imaginary temperature.
Now, to get an unimaginary cold temperature, you've got to start with a positive temperature that is cold.
So 4 degrees is cold; furthermore, it is unimaginary, since even if you take a square root you will not get an imaginary number.
There is no problem with that statement.
Can you find what does not belong in this picture? (Score:3, Funny)
...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*
Re:TFA says "18 microseconds", not "18 seconds" (Score:3, Funny)
Me sorry. He looked so lonely in there!
Re:TFA says "18 microseconds", not "18 seconds" (Score:4, Funny)
It's not about size, it's about length....
(of time.)