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Sound Of An Atom Captured

By Kamal Nayan | Update Date: Sep 15, 2014 09:36 AM EDT

Researchers have successfully demonstrated the sound of a single atom makes when excited, according to a new study. The sound made by atom is completely inaudible to human ear though.

Findings of the study demonstrate a curious phenomenon in quantum physics that sees sound waves take on the role of light. 

The study explained how researchers managed in making acoustic waves couple to an artificial atom. 

"We have opened a new door into the quantum world by talking and listening to atoms," said Per Delsing, head of the experimental research group, in the press release.

"Our long term goal is to harness quantum physics so that we can benefit from its laws, for example in extremely fast computers. We do this by making electrical circuits which obey quantum laws, that we can control and study," said Delsing. 

An artificial atom, like regular atom can be charged up with energy which it subsequently emits in the form of a particle. 

The new experiment is designed to both emit and absorb energy in the form of sound. 

"According to the theory, the sound from the atom is divided into quantum particles," said Martin Gustafsson, the research article's first author. 

"Such a particle is the weakest sound that can be detected," said Gustafsson. 

The study has been published in the journal Science

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