quantum mechanics
number of breaks: 3
The travel time of light inside the hydrogen molecule
The wave-particle duality is arguably one of the most intriguing concepts of quantum mechanics. Depending on the circumstances of the observation, a fundamental particle–like an electron–shows either wave- or particle-like behavior. One typical wave phenomenon is interference, where crests and troughs of two or more... click to read more
Cooled to the Quantum Realm
Levitation of objects sounds like magic, but it is precisely what Arthur Ashkin's optical tweezer won the Nobel Prize for in 2018. An optical tweezer amounts to an intense laser that focuses down to a very small point. Optical tweezers trap an object put at... click to read more
Silencing a quantum drum
To a classical physicist, there is no fundamental limit to how well you can measure something. A classical object, for example, always exists in a well-defined position; if you want to know that position with better accuracy, you simply build a better microscope. The story... click to read more
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