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Friday, April 01, 2011

#MATERIALS: "Atomic superconductor one-ups squid"


Atomic-scale circuit harnesses ring of ultracold sodium gas (red) circulating around a ring, with a laser-based barrier stopping the flow of atoms around the circuit (left); without the barrier the atoms circulate around the ring (right).

Circulating ultra-cold atoms around a ring exhibits superfluidity—the atomic version of superconductivity—potentially enabling sensors capable of tracking rotational motion in gyroscopes of unparalleled accuracy, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Technology (NIST).
Further Reading: http://bit.ly/NextGenLog-hVKC