Gun to block bullets in the air

Scientists have found a way to stop a bullet in the air even though it's a tiny bullet.

American scientists at the University of Taxas in Austin invented a coilgun called a reverse operating gun that could block molecular or atomic bullets from being fired. The research that sounded like something in the X-Men movie could eventually help measure neutrinos - one of the most difficult to detect and many particles in the universe.

The research is published online in Physical Review Letters.

Mark Raizen, a professor of physics and one of the study's authors, said: 'The motivation behind this research is the study of weapons. Weapons technologies often do not lead to basic research. '

Coilgun guns are a standard feature of science fiction, but the military's attempt to put this weapon into practice has yet to succeed. Conventional guns use chemical explosives to produce hot air, which pushes lead bullets out of the barrel. However, the coilgun fired a magnetic ball, usually made of iron, with a series of coiled wires to create a strong magnetic field.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

There is no physical contact between the projectile bullet and the winding wires, but only some of the material the size of bullets is actually adjective. ' But when you look at single atoms it seems that everything around is adjective,' Raizen said.

Coilgun guns consist of 64 parts made by hand and are started by its own capacitance.

Catch the particles

The researchers collected particles from the air, held them in a tiny magazine and dropped them towards the gun. As the particles approach the gun and hit the winding coils, each electric field of a continuous coil slows down the particles without touching them. Coilgun guns carry atoms and molecules flying at 500m per second until they stop.

This study is based on coilgun guns over 18 stages that Raizen and his research team conducted in 2007. ' Ultimately this is a very simple method of how to prevent atoms. , 'he said.

Neutrinos grain scale

The ultimate goal of the project is to measure neutrinos - extremely small and very difficult to detect.

By retaining an atom of tritium radioactive material, the heaviest form of hydrogen gas, scientists hope to weigh neutrinos emitted when atoms decay. Until now, scientists have been unable to store tritium.

Professor Marlan Scully, a physicist at Texas A&M University, who was not involved in the study, said: 'I think this research is great. It gives us a new way to cool atoms and put us in the process of cooling hydrogen gas. This can be a wonderful tool to help us master the basic science of atoms. '