Probing a Singular Potential with Cold Atoms: A Neutral Atom and a Charged Wire

Abstract

By charging a thin wire we realize a pure attractive $1/r^2$ potential of variable strength for cold neutral atoms. Scattering experiments are performed where the charged wire is placed inside a confined gas of cold lithium atoms. We observe the “falling” of atoms into the $1/r^2$ singularity which so far has been only theoretically discussed in textbooks.