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First ever demonstration of quantum chaos during atom ionisation

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, investigating the chaotic behaviour of the quantum world, have been able to give the first ever demonstration of quantum chaos during atom ionisation. Using laser light, they released electrons from rubidium in a strong electromagnetic field. The researchers measured typical fluctuations in the electron current, which is subject to the frequency of the laser light, and which arose from the chaotic movement of the electrons. The experiment is based on an experiment from the early days of quantum mechanics demonstrating the photoelectric effect. (Physical Review Letters, November 4, 2005)