An atomic-scale map of the interface between an atomic dot and its substrate. Each peak represents a single atom. The map, made with high-intensity X-rays, is a slice through a vertical cross-section ...

When most of us picture an atom, we think about a small nucleus made of protons and neutrons orbited by one or more electrons. We view these electrons as point-like while rapidly orbiting the nucleus.

Atom interferometry has emerged as a transformative approach in both fundamental physics and practical applications, utilising the wave nature of atoms to measure minute effects of gravity, rotation ...