October 10, 2014

Rare ‘baby rattle’ molecules reveal new quantum properties of H2O and H2



*  Neutron scattering experiments at the ILL have revealed the existence of quantum selection rules in molecules, the first experimental confirmation of its kind.
*   Small molecules such as water and hydrogen were inserted into C-60 buckyballs to form rare compounds ideal for testing the predictions of quantum theory.
*   Similar confinement techniques could open the door to new insights about the quantum properties of molecules by providing a unique testing ground for quantum theory.