Quantum Breakthrough: Scientists Induce Controlled 'Wobble' in Single Atom's Nucleus

Researchers from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands have been able to initiate a controlled movement in the very heart of an atom. They caused the atomic nucleus to interact with one of the electrons in the outermost shells of the atom. This electron could be manipulated and read out through the needle of a scanning tunneling microscope. The research, published in Nature Communications today, offers prospects for storing quantum information inside the nucleus, where it is safe from external disturbances. Credit: TU Delft

Researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have achieved a significant milestone by inducing a controlled movement within an atom's nucleus. By facilitating interaction between the nucleus and an electron in the atom's outer shell, they manipulated and observed this interaction using a scanning tunneling microscope.

Focusing on a single titanium-47 atom, which possesses a slightly magnetic nucleus due to one less neutron than the more common titanium-48, the team exploited the 'hyperfine interaction'—a subtle effect where the nuclear spin is influenced by the electron's spin. This delicate interaction required precisely calibrated magnetic fields. Upon applying a voltage pulse, both the electron and nucleus exhibited a synchronized 'wobble' for a fraction of a microsecond, aligning with theoretical predictions.

This advancement holds promise for quantum information storage, as the nucleus's isolation from environmental disturbances makes it an ideal candidate for preserving quantum data. Lead researcher Sander Otte remarked, "This experiment gives humans influence on the state of matter on an unimaginably small scale."

This achievement represents a victory for humanity, enhancing our ability to manipulate matter at the most fundamental level and paving the way for future innovations in quantum technology.

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Source. ScienceDaily. "Quantum researchers cause controlled 'wobble' in the nucleus of a single atom" "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240912135652.htm" September 12, 2024.

Edited by Ansh Pincha.