Molecules Manipulated with Lasers 66
eldavojohn writes "Scientists have been busy in Ottawa using lasers to manipulate chemical reactions. While this may not seem like an impressive feat, the implications this has for quantum mechanics is quite large. From the article, "According to Albert Stolow, the NRC team leader, the tool used to alter molecular landscapes has implications beyond the control of chemical reactions. One example already mentioned is in the area of quantum information either to directly encode molecular scale information or to control molecular scale switches. Another application is in developing novel forms of optical microscopy of live cells, where quantum control methods can be used to sharpen images, enhance sensitivity and perhaps even perform molecular scale surgery on individual cells. The electric interaction underlying the NRC technique is an essential tool on the quantum mechanic's workbench. Its application to science and technology could reach deep into the quantum world of the ultrasmall." The article in science was where I caught this initially though it doesn't seem to be free anywhere online. The final words of the summary are "suggesting broad applicability" but only time will tell how far our imaginations will use this research."
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"Well, that molecule's done. How many more to go?"
"Four hundred seventeen quintillion, three hundred sixty five quadrillion, forty..."
"Sigh"
lasers (Score:5, Funny)
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Spelling? (Score:5, Informative)
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My apologies, "change" wasn't the correct word; I wasn't focusing too hard on that part since the point of my post was to bring attention to the mispelling of our nation's capital.
-Aikon
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I luve mesalf
I wont yoo to luve me
Whon I's feeling dawhn
I wont yoo ubahve me
I serche mesalf
I wont yoo to fihnde me
I forghete mesalf
I wont you to rehmihnde me
I want you to find me
I forget myself
I want you to remind me
I dohn't wont anybodies ehlse
Whon I tinks uhbouht yoo I touche mesalf
I dohn't wont anybodies ehlse
Oh noes, oh noes, oh noes!
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Oh, and I for one may or not have welcomed our Norman overlords.
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Speling (Score:3, Informative)
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So it's more like Ttawa? Nice one.
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Note the subtle difference in CAPITALIZATION!
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[/irony]
I believe that's what we call it now-a-days.
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cool (Score:5, Funny)
Applications (Score:2)
Granted, it's an amazing feat, but when can we start manipulating particles like electrons? I want to force a neutron into hydrogen and get deuterium without all that concentrating. When we get that kind of science down to a manufacturing technology, that's when the real fun begins!
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I don't care how hard you have to concentrate, if you can do that under controled conditions there's a million bucks in it for you.
KFG
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I cannot guarantee they will be what you are looking for, but until you check you will never know.
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Doing this with molecules would increase the size of what you write, not make it smaller. Why? Molecules are made up from two to very many (100000 easily) atoms.
Ottowa in Canoda? (Score:4, Funny)
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Molecular Scale Surgery? (Score:1)
Re:Molecular Scale Surgery? (Score:4, Insightful)
New Batteries? (Score:5, Interesting)
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They already are; as are fuel cells. The final frontier is making them at the molecular level to power molecular sized machines, so I wouldn't go expecting better battery life from your Nano until it really is.
And I wanna see how Apple handles the interface to that.
KFG
Obligatory Goonies Quote: (Score:2)
This is slashdot... (Score:2)
So first the sharks "manipulate" his molecules, then use the lasers just to be sure?
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But how do you get the sharks in orbit first for the bombardment?
I'm a very untidy quantum mechanic. (Score:4, Funny)
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light sabers (Score:1)
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And that's a whole can of worms you don't wanna open. Witness this tragedy:
"You don't want to be in this country."
"I don't want to be in this country."
"These aren't the terrorists you're looking for."
"These aren't the tairrists ah'm lookin' fer."
"You won't find nuclear WMDs here."
"I won't find nucyoolar WMDs here."
Free Online (Score:4, Informative)
Google News has a few. [google.ca]
Soko
Enough with the "sharks" tags! (Score:3, Informative)
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You've obviously never heard my 14 year old son do a flawless impersonation of the entire "sharks with friggin' laser beams!" routine, complete with "Remind me what I pay you people for. Honestly (slap desk) Throw me a bone here."
"I've got a whole bag of 'shhhhh' with your name on it."
And of course:
"Very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and
Worlds smallest car!! (Score:1)