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Nature 453, 736-738 (5 June 2008) | doi:10.1038/453736a; Published online 4 June 2008

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Condensed-matter physics: Optical lattices

Markus Greiner1 & Simon Fölling1

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Optical lattices have rapidly become a favoured tool of atomic and condensed-matter physicists. These crystals made of light can be used to trap atoms at very low temperatures, creating a workshop in which to pore over and tinker with fundamental properties of matter.

Why make an optical lattice?Imagine you are trying to understand a complex quantum-physical phenomenon such as high-temperature superconductivity, just one of many intriguing effects that occur in the 'quantum gas' of electrons that pervades a solid crystal.

  1. Markus Greiner and Simon Fölling are in the Department of Physics, Harvard University, 17 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
    Email: greiner@physics.harvard.edu
    Email: foelling@physics.harvard.edu

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