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Nature 413, 466-467 (4 October 2001) | doi:10.1038/35097176

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Bose–Einstein condensates: Mastering the language of atoms

Ron Folman1,2 & Jörg Schmiedmayer1,3

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Physicists can already make ultracold atoms perform quantum tricks in sophisticated magnetic and optical traps. But a fast route to trapping atoms on a microchip opens up new possibilities.

Atoms are the building blocks of all matter. They have a positively charged nucleus and their outer boundaries are defined by electron clouds.

  1. Ron Folman and Jörg Schmiedmayer are at the Physikalisches Institute, University of Heidelberg, Philosophen weg 12, Heidelberg 69120, Germany.
  2. e-mail: Email: folman@physi.uni-heidelberg.de
  3. e-mail: Email: schmiedmayer@physi.uni-heidelberg.de