Atomic Density Fluctuations Research Articles

Resonance electron spectroscopy detects single atoms

A group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reports that by means of the new technique of resonance ionization spectroscopy they have observed single atoms of cesium. They say that one atom in an environment of 1019 atoms or molecules of another kind can be measured with their method, and they do not believe this to be a limit. In subsequent experiments, the group has observed density fluctuations of atoms, absolute photodissociation cross sections, time‐resolved diffusion and chemical reaction of atoms, and the detection of cesium atoms from the spontaneous fission of californium nuclei.