Science News from research organizations Scientists watch an atomic nucleus flip in real time For the first time, scientists watched an atomic nucleus flip its spin live, unlocking new possibilities for quantum sensing. Date: September 4, 2025 Source: Delft University of Technology Summary: Scientists at Delft University of Technology have managed to watch a single atomic nucleus flip its magnetic state in real time.
Using a scanning tunneling microscope, they indirectly read the nucleus through its electrons, finding the nuclear spin surprisingly stable for several seconds. This single-shot readout breakthrough could pave the way for manipulating atomic-scale quantum states, with future applications in quantum sensing and simulation.
Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Artist impression, based on actual measurement data, of the nuclear spin of an atom flipping between distinct quantum states. The flipping was observed as a fluctuation in the electrical current passing through the atom on a timescale of seconds.
Credit: Scixel Researchers from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands have been able to see the magnetic nucleus of an atom switch back and forth in real time. They read out the nuclear 'spin' via the electrons in the same atom through the needle of a scanning tunneling microscope.
*Reporting by Sciencedaily.*
