One step closer to "Beam me up, Scotty": Particle-Wave Duality demonstrated in molecules made of 100+ atoms.

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One step closer to "Beam me up, Scotty": Particle-Wave Duality demonstrated in molecules made of 100+ atoms.

Posted By: MrFusion [Send E-Mail]
Date: Monday, 26-Mar-2012 12:58:18

You seem to be made of solid matter and be in a specific location, right? (OK, at least, most of the time?) But you also have a wave nature, like a beam of light. This is not obvious on the scale of everyday objects, except perhaps in the case of certain paranormal phenomena. But scientists have now observed wave-like interference patterns for the largest objects ever, molecules containing over 100 atoms. After passing streams of the molecules though two narrow slits close together, there are regions on the other side where the molecules alternately exist and don't exist: See this article: http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2012/03/quantum-interference-with-big-molecules-approaches-the-macroscopic.ars?clicked=related_right The original research paper is here: http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2012.34.html