Here's how it works: The researchers trap particles from the air, store them in a tiny chamber, and release them in the direction of the gun. When a particle reaches the gun and encounters the coils, each coil's magnetic field progressively slows the particle down without touching it. The coilgun brought atoms and molecules traveling at 500 meters per second (1,118 mph) to a compete stop. The work builds on a previous 18-stage coilgun Raizen and his group built in 2007. "Ultimately this is a very simple solution on how to stop almost any atom," he said. The project's eventual goal is to weigh neutrinos, which are very tiny and devilishly slippery. By capturing an atom of tritium, the heaviest form of hydrogen, the scientists hope to weighh neutrinos that spit out as the atom decays. Scientists have so far been unable to capture tritium. "I think this research is fantastic," said Marlan Scully, a physicist at Texas A & M University who was not involved in the work. "It has given us a new way to cool atoms and put us into the game of cooling hydrogen." "This could be a great tool to help us understand the basic science of atoms," he added. The study appeared last week in the journal Physical Review Letters. Related Links: Discovery News blog: What the Tech? |
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