Austin (TX) - Researchers at the University of Texas has developed an atomic coilgun device which is capable of slowing down and stopping paramagnetic atoms and molecules for research.  Devices like this may lead researchers toward a better understanding of atoms, atomic interaction and even the very nature of matter by observing the very fast in a stationary manner.

Researchers have developed a multi-stage coil gun assembly which has the effect of slowing down introduced atoms and molecules.  This process works by an aligned sequence of pulsing magnets arranged in a gun-like array.  The particles (atoms or molecules) are emitted from the the nozzle, pass through the skimmer, and are then introduced into a cascading sequence of magnetic pulses designed to reduce velocity.  The supersonic expansion from the emitter nozzle generates cold beams of atoms and molecules, but at high velocity ranging from a few hundred meters to a few kilometers per second.  The tests performed thus far have operated around 480 meters per second.

The full length of the aparatus is just over eight feet in length, though no single component is more than about 11 inches.  The components are spaced out in such a way (over a long length) to allow for focus and expression of the particles.




This group working on this research includes Professor Mark G. Raizen and Dr. Edvardas Narevicius.  Dr. Narevicius told us, "The promising aspect of our method is that we can measure both recoiling ion and beta particle (which is energy and momentum) at the same time in a coincidence measurement."

For their initial tests they used metastable neon which was expelled at supersonic speeds from the nozzle emitter.  Their tests showed a slowing of 13% in an eighteen stage device.  Future devices will increase the number of stages to 64.  It was demonstrated in the early tests that residual drive current of the individual coils limited efficiency to some degree.  Their current and future research work involves attempting to address these issues and Dr. Narevicius told us that several of them have already been resolved.  It is believed the 64-stage device will be sufficient to physically stop atoms and molecules for observation, at least for those of a particular ratio of mass to magnetic moment.

Work like this holds special interest for physicists interested in studying the simplest radioactive element, Tritium, which is a hydrogen isotope.  Researchers are interested in studying the Tritium beta decay for the electron-neutrino mass measurement.  By the slowing and trapping of tritium by this aparatus and being able to hold the atoms stationary in a magnetic field, the ability exists to observe them at length and in ways not possible today.

antimatter production

Oct 03, 2007 14:23     

I wonder if this kind of tech could be used to refine antimatter production
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Re: antimatter production

Oct 03, 2007 17:37     

The trouble with antimatter production is that if antimatter encounters normal matter, the two annihilate instantly; so the difficulty is confinement in an extremely high vaccuum. A particle of antimatter is created in a high-energy particle collision, always along with its normal-matter pair. The antimatter particles are typically separated in a magnetic field (opposite charges move in opposite directions) and then fed into whatever device needs to use them. If storage is needed, they are stored in a magnetic trap which keeps them confined - this is much more stable than a stationary trap. When the researchers speak of physically stopping an atom, they are talking of stopping it for fractions of a second which is not sufficient for long-term storage (but plenty of time for scientific investigation).

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BFG2000

Oct 04, 2007 05:48     

Does this mean the BFG2000 is less of a dream then I originally thought!?
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i'm sick of this crap!

Oct 10, 2007 14:51     

Here they're speaking about an Atomic coilgun, but still have yet to develop a fully deployed railgun. John Kruger would be ashamed.
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