Re: [Phys-l] atomic trap question

[brian whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

On 7/10/2011 2:06 PM, John Denker wrote:
> /snip/
> I'm not sure what sort of answer is expected, so let me say a
> few things that /might/ be helpful.
>
>   *) The atoms do not have net electrical charge (electric dipole
>     moment).  Well, sometimes they do, but then the game is called
>     /ion/ trapping, and that's explicitly not what was asked about,
>     so let's skip this and move on.
/snip/


Hmmm...this does not read quite right to me.
The idea of the electric dipole moment of  electrically neutral atoms,
when incorporated in an  uncharged molecule, anyone?

Brian W