The mechanical properties of microtubules have been the subject of intense study during recent decades because of their importance to the many cell functions that they are involved in. Observations of microtubule thermal fluctuations have proven to be a reliable method to extract mechanical properties...

At fast timescales, the self-similarity of random Brownian motion is expected to break down and be replaced by ballistic motion. So far, an experimental verification of this prediction has been out of reach due to a lack of instrumentation fast and precise enough to capture this motion. With a newly...

Flocking birds, fish schools, and insect swarms are familiar examples of collective motion that plays a role in a range of problems, such as spreading of diseases. Models have provided a qualitative understanding of the collective motion, but progress has been hindered by the lack of detailed experimental...

We describe the preparation of atom-number states with strongly interacting bosons in one dimension or spin-polarized fermions. The procedure is based on a combination of weakening and squeezing of the trapping potential. For the resulting state, the full atom-number distribution is obtained. Starting...

Recent work provides a general two-step solution to trapping and cooling of atoms. The first step is magnetic stopping of paramagnetic atoms with the use of a sequence of pulsed fields. The second step is single-photon cooling, which is based on a one-way barrier. This cooling method is related intimately...

We analyse the conditions for producing atomic number states in a one-dimensional optical box using the Bethe ansatz method. This approach provides a general framework, enabling the study of number state production over a wide range of realistic experimental parameters.

In this chapter, we describe our experiments with ultra-cold atoms in optical potentials and show how we can address fundamental issues of time in quantum mechanics. The high degree of experimental control and the conceptual simplicity are the main advantages of our system. We start with an overview...

We present a new method for nanoscale atom lithography. We propose the use of a supersonic atomic beam, which provides an extremely high-brightness and cold source of fast atoms. The atoms are to be focused onto a substrate using a thin magnetic lm, into which apertures with widths on the order of 100...

Isotope separation is one of the grand challenges of modern society and holds great potential for basic science, medicine, energy, and defense. We consider here a new and general approach to isotope separation. The method is based on an irreversible change of the mass-to-magnetic moment ratio of a particular...

Sibling Paenibacillus dendritiformis bacterial colonies grown on low-nutrient agar medium mutually inhibit growth through secretion of a lethal factor. Analysis of secretions reveals the presence of subtilisin (a protease) and a 12 kDa protein, termed sibling lethal factor (Slf). Purified subtilisin...