A long molecule made of light and matter was measured

Physicists managed to find the light which acts as a glue between the atoms. Some atoms share their negatively charged electrons (simpler gases) with complex hydrocarbons floating in space. In addition, some atoms are attracted to differences in their total charge. THE electromagnetic fields they can change the arrangement of the charges around the atom. Ultracold rubidium atoms have been shown to allow light to polarize atoms, sometimes making them sticky.

We were able to polarize multiple atoms together in a controlled manner for the first time, creating a measurable attraction between them.

Matthias Sonnleitner, physicist at the University of Innsbruck

This is a very weak pull, so you have to do the experiment very carefully in order to measure it. If the atoms have a lot of energy and move quickly, the attraction disappears immediately. Therefore, a cloud of ultra-cold atoms was used.

Wien Mira Maiwöger, atomic physicist at the Vienna University of Technology

The research team captured a cloud of 5,000 atoms beneath a gold-coated chip using a magnetic field. Then he cooled the atoms to temperatures close to absolute zero. Then the atoms are hit by a laser they tried a number of different attractions. To detect this attraction, scientists had to make precise calculations.

When the magnetic field was turned off, the atoms released 44 milliseconds before reaching the laser light field. In the fall, the cloud expanded naturally. This allowed the researchers to take measurements at different densities. The answer obtained was that not only did the incident light affect the atoms, but also the light scattered by the other atoms. When it touched the atoms, it gave them polarity otherwise: they were attracted or repelled by a greater light intensity. In addition, this could help explain the formation of molecules in space.