..... Both teams found that the momentum of the atoms
changed back and forth as the frequency fluctuated,
but did not pass through an intermediate zero-momentum
phase.
The fact that the atoms bypassed the zero-momentum state
means that the atoms were effectively in both momentum
states at the same time during the transition from one state
to another. This is an example of 'quantum superposition',
the phenomenon that could form the basis of a quantum
computer.
[and quantum engines?]
http://physicsweb.org/article/news/5/7/2
W Hensinger et al, 2001, Nature 412 52
D Steck et al, 2001, Sciencexpress 1061569
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