Researchers at NIST have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of physics by demonstrating that atoms can exhibit non-linear properties similar to high-intensity laser light waves. Using sodium atoms cooled to near absolute zero, the team showed that three atom waves can be combined to create a fourth wave, a phenomenon previously observed only with laser light.
This experiment marks the beginning of a new field called non-linear atom optics, where matter waves interact directly without the need for a material medium. The researchers achieved this by creating a Bose-Einstein condensate, a state of matter where atoms become indistinguishable and exhibit unusual properties.
The findings parallel the development of non-linear optics, which emerged after the invention of the laser. Scientists expect that non-linear atom optics will lead to new applications, such as amplifying matter waves to create more intense atom beams.
Keywords: Matter waves, Bose-Einstein condensate, Matter wave mixing
