. 24/7 Space News .
Hydrogen Molecule Nuclei Image Is Obtained

One of the many snapshots that the physicists took of the heavy hydrogen molecule. Each dot in the image represents a specific angle between laser polarisation and the molecular axis and a specific distance to the deuterium nuclei. The constellations marked in red occur more frequently. Credit: Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
by Staff Writers
UPI Correspondent
Heidelberg, Germany (UPI) Nov 09, 2006
German researchers have, for the first time, visualized vibration and rotation in the nuclei of a hydrogen molecule as a quantum mechanical wave packet. The scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg "photographed" the molecule using intensive, ultrashort laser pulses at different points and compiled a film from the separate images.

Since a hydrogen molecule is about 5,000 times smaller than the wavelength of visible light, it is impossible to create an optical image by photographing it. Instead, Max Planck researchers used pump-probe technology to make high-resolution and ultrahigh-speed images. The molecules are "bumped" with a "pump" laser pulse and measured with a "probe" laser pulse.

Using the technique, the scientists created the first complete image of the dynamic of one of the fastest molecular systems over a previously unachieved short time scale.

In the future, researchers say they will model the pump laser pulse to create a wave packet so certain quantum mechanical processes take place in preference to others.

The research appears in the online edition of Physical Review Letters.

Source: United Press International

Related Links
Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Physicists Observe New Property of Matter
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 06, 2006
Physicists at the University of California, San Diego have for the first time observed the spontaneous production of coherence within "excitons," the bound pairs of electrons and holes that enable semiconductors to function as novel electronic devices.







  • Price Of Space Tourist Flight To ISS Raised By One Million Dollars
  • India To Book Place In Space
  • India Offers ASEAN Cooperation In Space Technologies
  • Space Race Realities

  • Navigating The Unknown About Mars
  • Ground Team Stays Busy on 10th Anniversary of NASA Mars Launch
  • (Your Name) Can Go To Mars
  • A Mission To Mars - Part Two

  • ILS Proton Successfully Launches ARABSAT BADR-4 Satellite
  • TerreStar Networks Chooses Arianespace to Launch TerreStar I
  • AMC-18 Launch Campaign Begins
  • Phil Sumrall Heads Development Of NASA's Future Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle

  • Next Generation Imaging Detectors Could Enhance Space Missions
  • SSTL Signs Contract With Federal Republic Of Nigeria For Supply Of EO Satellite
  • NASA Snow Data Helps Maintain Largest And Oldest Bison Herd
  • Australia And China To Put Eyes In The Sky To Monitor Climate Change

  • Making Old Horizons New
  • Scientist Who Found Tenth Planet Discusses The Downgrading Of Pluto
  • New Horizons Spacecraft Snaps Approach Image of the Giant Planet
  • Does The Atmosphere Of Pluto Go Through The Fast-Freeze

  • Stars Churning Away In Large Magellanic Cloud
  • Scientists Crack Open Stellar Evolution
  • Snake On A Galactic Plane
  • NASA Gives WISE Decision The Go Ahead

  • Escaping Gasses From Moon Expose Fresh Surface
  • Scientists Discuss Indian Manned Space Mission
  • The Moon Not As Dead Cold As Believed
  • Stanford Shoots For The Moon

  • Cut from Different Cloth
  • Northrop Grumman Showcases Comprehensive Suite of Geospatial Intelligence Solutions
  • Raytheon Next-Gen GPS Receiver Tracks Live Satellite M-code for the First Time
  • Australian Army M113 To Be Upgraded With TALIN 500 Inertial Navigation System

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement