Hutton Honors College
— How do you stop an atom?
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How do you stop an atom?—Discussion lunch with 1997 Nobel Laureate in Physics William D. Phillips of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
This is a small-group program and requires participants to sign up in advance. Participants must be IU undergraduates and must sign up using the established procedures. For complete sign-up procedures, click here.How can scientists study the composition of individual atoms when they can move at a rate of 4,000 km/hr? The answer: Slow them down! But how can that be done? For years, scientists struggled to find a way to cool atoms in order to slow them down enough to be studied. The atoms, however, seemed unable to reach a temperature that was low enough. Eventually, William Phillips, professor of physics from NIST and the University of Maryland, along with other scientists, devised methods using lasers to trap atoms in what was coined "optical molasses," which significantly slowed the movement of the atoms and held them in place at the lowest temperatures recorded-billionths of a degree away from absolute zero. At such temperatures, new phenomena occur, including one that was predicted by Einstein 80 years ago. The knowledge gained from this intense study of atomic structure and the behavior of gasses at low temperatures may be used to design more precise atomic clocks for space navigation, to measure gravitational forces very precisely, and to manufacture tiny electronic components. At this luncheon, which is co-sponsored by the Wells Scholars Program and the Hutton Honors College, students will have the opportunity to discuss with Dr. Phillips his methods and observations, the future uses of his research, and other topics of interest to those who attend.
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