A quantum mechanical motor
JUN 18, 2009
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.023437
ScienceNOW : The first electric motor whirred to life nearly 2 centuries ago, and in recent decades scientists and engineers have worked to build ever-smaller ones.Now, a team of theoretical physicists has proposed a fully quantum-mechanical version of the classic spinning electric motor that consists of just two atoms trapped in a ring of light.Experimenters might be able to construct the thing now, the researchers say, even though they themselves don’t have an intuitive explanation of exactly how it works.
© 2009 American Institute of Physics
