image: Electron density in a homonuclear molecule which behaves like a polar dimer molecule. The size of this molecule is more than 1000 times larger than usual molecules. This paper reports on the surprising discovery of these molecules in an ultracold gas of Rubidium atoms, having a significant permanent electric dipole moment. This dipole moment is manifest as the localization of electron density near the top, giving the molecule charge density the appearance of a trilobite fossil. This image relates to a paper that appeared in the Nov. 25, 2011, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The paper, by W. Li of University of Nottingham in Nottingham, UK, and colleagues, was titled, “A Homonuclear Molecule with a Permanent Electric Dipole Moment.” view more
Credit: Image ©<i>Science</i>/AAAS