“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the provided links.” Scientists have successfully demonstrated the ability to manipulate atoms using a crystal grating, a feat previously thought to be unattainable at the necessary high energy levels. In a recent study that has not yet undergone peer review, researchers describe how a graphene sheet used as a crystal grating endured 100 hours of exposure to an atom beam without sustaining damage, revealing distinct circular patterns indicative of atomic diffraction. While current atomic interferometers rely on nanomechanical membranes, utilizing crystal gratings for increased momentum transfer could enhance the sensitivity of these instruments. On September 14, 2015, the Laser-Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected a disturbance in spacetime for the first time ever. This significant achievement, once considered almost impossible by Albert Einstein, was made feasible by the observatory’s capacity to measure minuscule variations in the distance traveled by a laser beam, indicating a distortion in spacetime. If researchers could develop atomic interferometers capable of capturing the wave-like behavior of atoms, gravitational wave detectors might become significantly more sensitive, potentially identifying various types of gravitational waves, including those hypothetically produced by advanced extraterrestrial civilizations’ warp engines. While the realization of such a tool remains uncertain, scientists from the Institute of Quantum Technologies at the German Aerospace Center and the University of Vienna are exploring this possibility. In a recent publication on the preprint server arXiv, Christian Brand and his colleagues from the German Aerospace Center conducted an experiment that involved diffraction of high-energy hydrogen and helium atoms through a single-layer graphene sheet, resulting in the observation of characteristic ring patterns indicative of diffraction. This discovery is particularly noteworthy as such diffraction phenomena had previously only been observed in subatomic particles and electrons. Despite initial beliefs that the high energy of atoms would damage crystal gratings before diffraction could occur, the researchers found that the graphene sheet remained undamaged even after 100 hours of exposure to the atom beam, allowing diffraction to proceed. The authors of the study emphasized the exceptional electronic and mechanical properties of single-layer graphene, highlighting its suitability as a grating material for transmitting atoms and its ease of preparation on appropriate support structures. This diffraction phenomenon is made possible by the undetectable energy exchange between graphene and the hydrogen/helium atoms, as explained by Bill Allison from the University of Cambridge, likening it to the seamless opening and closing of doors without any energy loss or gain.
No one, not even myself, can determine which door I entered through, leading to the phenomenon of diffraction. According to the authors, the sensitivity of interferometers increases in proportion to the momentum transferred by the grating to the matter wave. However, the current constraints of the manufacturing process limit the size of grating periods to a mere 100 nanometers. This groundbreaking display of atomic diffraction within a crystalline lattice has the potential to revolutionize the field by paving the way for more refined instruments that are crucial for investigating some of the most profound mysteries of the universe.
The integration of crystalline transmission gratings into interferometers may herald the advent of novel quantum-based sensors, as underscored by the authors. They elaborated, stating, “Utilizing crystalline transmission gratings in interferometers could unveil a new realm of quantum-based sensors.” The inherent advantages of fast atoms for detecting gravitational waves, when juxtaposed with traditional cold-atom experiments, open up the possibility of developing advanced multi-dimensional interferometers.
By exploring these avenues, researchers are embarking on a journey towards enhancing our understanding of the intricate workings of the cosmos. The potential applications of these findings extend beyond the realm of current scientific comprehension, offering a glimpse into a future where technology and innovation converge to unravel the enigmas that have long perplexed humanity.
