'Electric Prism' Separates Water's Nuclear Spin States (IMAGE)

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

'Electric Prism' Separates Water's Nuclear Spin States

Caption

Researchers have separated the nuclear spin states of water. In para water, the spins (depicted as arrows) of water's two hydrogen nuclei cancel out. They add up in ortho water. The scientists produced an ultracold, supersonic beam of water molecules -- a mixture of para and ortho water -- and sent it through an electric deflector (blue device on the left). The deflector acts as a prism for nuclear spin states, separating para and ortho water molecules in space (right).

Credit

Daniel A. Horke, CFEL/DESY

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Please credit Daniel A. Horke, CFEL/DESY

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