In a study that closes a long-standing knowledge gap in fundamental science, researchers Boerge Hemmerling and Stephen Kane at the University of California, Riverside, have successfully measured the electric dipole moment of aluminum monochloride (AlCl), a simple yet scientifically crucial diatomic molecule. Their results, published in Physical Review A, have implications for quantum technologies, astrophysics, and planetary science.
Until now, the dipole moment of AlCl was only estimated, with no experimental confirmation. The study's precise measurement now replaces the theoretical predictions with solid experimental data.
An electric dipole moment arises when positive and negative charges are separated within a molecule, creating an uneven distribution of electrons. For molecules like AlCl, it governs how the molecules interact with each other and their environment.
"In chemistry, dipole moments affect everything from bonding behavior to solvent interactions," said Hemmerling, an associate professor of physics and astronomy. "In biology, they influence phenomena like hydrogen bonding in water. In physics and astronomy, the dipole moments can be harnessed to make neighboring molecules interact, for instance, with the goal to create a quantum entanglement between them."
Hemmerling explained that AlCl plays a critical role in several scientific domains. He said the molecule has become a promising candidate in the development of ultracold quantum computing platforms, where a precise understanding of intermolecular interactions, driven by the dipole moment, is essential.
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