Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: hayes@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Patrick W. Hayes) Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: STM nuclear reactions Message-ID: Date: 13 Dec 90 21:51:25 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: The Ohio State University (IRCC) Lines: 15 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu About watching atoms decay with an STM: isn't it true that every time you scan over an atom with the needle, you have observed it, thus collapsing the wave function to "I'm not even thinking about decaying now" state? So the more often you scan it, the less likely it will become that it decays? Just asking, Patrick Hayes [This isn't as nutty as it sounds. There are in fact demonstrated physical systems where repeated measurement can prevent quantum- mechanical transitions. However, in the specific case of the STM, my guess is that the measurement of the state of the nucleus is far too indirect for it to have that kind of effect. --JoSH]