Atomtronics – an extension of electronics in which the things that move around are entire ultracold atoms in an optical lattice instead of electrons in a crystalline lattice – has just had a large boost. Ronald Pepino and colleagues at the JILA at the University of Colorado have shown that by setting up potential wells of varying depths in an optical lattice it may be possible to construct the equivalents of diodes and transistors, with the analogue of voltage being played by quantities of atoms held in reservoirs.
It is not yet clear whether such devices could give much competition for conventional electronic devices. However, they could provide models for many-body systems with superb control of parameters and complete freedom from lattice imperfections.
Further reading
R A Pepino et al. 2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 140405.