US EditionFirst Direct Images Reveal Quantum Dance in Complex Molecule
HAMBURG, GERMANY, AUG 11 – Researchers used the European XFEL to capture synchronized atomic vibrations in molecules, confirming zero-point motion predicted by quantum mechanics for the first time.
- Scientists at Goethe University Frankfurt used the European XFEL in Hamburg, Germany, to capture the hidden, never-ending vibrations of atoms inside molecules, as of August 11, 2025.
- Classical physics predicts molecules at absolute zero should remain motionless, but the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle made direct observation of zero-point motion seem impossible.
- The specialized apparatus recorded each fragment’s position and timing, enabling reconstruction of molecules' original structure using Coulomb Explosion Imaging with ultrashort, high-intensity X-ray pulses.
- Experiments succeeded in capturing the zero-point motion of atoms, revealing that molecules subtly vibrate at absolute zero and providing new insights into quantum phenomena.
- Applying this technique to other molecules could open new research avenues and enable time-resolved movies of molecular processes, potentially improving drug design.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Scientists capture the secret quantum dance of atoms for the first time
Using the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, researchers have captured the hidden, never-ending vibrations of atoms inside molecules. This first-ever direct view of zero-point motion reveals that atoms move in precise, synchronized patterns, even in their lowest energy state.
Molecules in the spotlight: Snapshots reveal the eternal dance of particles
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt have, for the first time, directly visualized the so-called quantum zero-point motion in a larger molecule. This motion is exhibited by particles even at absolute zero temperature. In a collaborative experiment with the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, the University of Hamburg, the European XFEL, and other partners, they managed to make this “eternal dance” of the atoms visible. Th…
Scientists Capture Molecules Moving At Absolute Zero For The First Time
We often think of molecules as tiny, fixed structures like little Lego models, locked in place. But new research shows that even when frozen to their coldest state, molecules are anything but motionless. The post Scientists Capture Molecules Moving At Absolute Zero For The First Time appeared first on Study Finds.
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