(Press-News.org) RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- In a study that closes a long-standing knowledge gap in fundamental science, researchers Boerge Hemmerling and Stephen Kane at the University of California, Riverside, have successfully measured the electric dipole moment of aluminum monochloride (AlCl), a simple yet scientifically crucial diatomic molecule. Their results, published in Physical Review A, have implications for quantum technologies, astrophysics, and planetary science.
Until now, the dipole moment of AlCl was only estimated, with no experimental confirmation. The study’s precise measurement now replaces the theoretical predictions with solid experimental data.
An electric dipole moment arises when positive and negative charges are separated within a molecule, creating an uneven distribution of electrons. For molecules like AlCl, it governs how the molecules interact with each other and their environment.
“In chemistry, dipole moments affect everything from bonding behavior to solvent interactions,” said Hemmerling, an associate professor of physics and astronomy. “In biology, they influence phenomena like hydrogen bonding in water. In physics and astronomy, the dipole moments can be harnessed to make neighboring molecules interact, for instance, with the goal to create a quantum entanglement between them.”
Hemmerling explained that AlCl plays a critical role in several scientific domains. He said the molecule has become a promising candidate in the development of ultracold quantum computing platforms, where a precise understanding of intermolecular interactions, driven by the dipole moment, is essential.
“The previously assumed value of about 1.5 Debye was just a historic placeholder,” Hemmerling said. “The definitive value of about 1.68 Debye our experimental results provide can enable the planning of high-precision experiments and improve the accuracy of theoretical models.”
AlCl has been detected in the atmospheres of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, which are in the late stages of stellar evolution. AGB stars experience significant mass loss and elemental redistribution; understanding their chemical composition is vital for tracing stellar and planetary evolution.
“Accurate dipole moment data improves how we interpret molecular signatures in starlight,” said Kane, a professor of planetary astrophysics in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. “Our findings will help refine astrophysical models that have until now relied on substituted or estimated values. This includes models used to analyze data from cutting-edge observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope.”
According to Kane, aluminum and chlorine play individual roles in the geochemistry of planet formation. He said radioactive aluminum isotopes contribute to core differentiation, while chlorine’s distribution helps map planetary evolution.
“The ratio of aluminum to chlorine in stars, as revealed through AlCl measurements, provides critical clues to stellar nucleosynthesis and the material history of these celestial bodies,” he said.
The study used a sophisticated experimental setup developed over seven years at UC Riverside, involving custom-built lasers, vacuum systems, and electronics designed for high-precision spectroscopy. By generating beams of AlCl in a vacuum and analyzing their spectral behavior, the team, in collaboration with Daniel McCarron at the University of Connecticut, was previously able to determine for the first time the molecule’s hyperfine structure and isotope shifts.
The UC Riverside team aims to continue exploring AlCl.
“From improving our understanding of distant stars to enabling next-generation quantum computers, the precise measurement of AlCl’s electric dipole moment is a foundational step toward unlocking future discoveries,” Hemmerling said. “We can now also study other molecules and atoms with high precision, paving the way for exciting new discoveries in astrochemistry, fundamental physics, and materials science.”
Among the team’s next targets is HoF, a molecule that may help test the boundaries of the Standard Model of physics.
“This study is a reminder that we still don’t know everything about even the most basic molecules,” Hemmerling said. “But modern technology gives us the tools to find out.”
The project involved collaboration with theorist Brian Kendrick at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation.
The paper is titled “Measurement of the electric dipole moment of AlCl by Stark-level spectroscopy.”
The University of California, Riverside is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment is more than 26,000 students. The campus opened a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual impact of more than $2.7 billion on the U.S. economy. To learn more, visit www.ucr.edu.
END
Decades-old mystery of AlCl dipole moment resolved
Study paves way for advances in astrophysics and quantum technology
2025-06-11
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Stroke, dementia more common in people with biomarker of aging
2025-06-11
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4:00 P.M. ET, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS — Stroke and dementia as well as late-life depression are more common in people who have a biomarker of aging called short leukocyte telomere length, according to a study published on June 11, 2025, online in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The good news is that this relationship was not found in people with healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating healthy and maintaining low cholesterol and blood pressure.
The study does not prove that shorter telomeres cause these brain diseases; it only shows an association.
“Our findings support the potential ...
Shorter telomeres linked to increased risk of age-related brain diseases
2025-06-11
Scientists from Mass General Brigham explored the associations between telomere length—which decreases as a person ages or is exposed to unhealthy environments—and the risk for age-related brain diseases. The research team found evidence suggesting that healthier lifestyle choices could mitigate telomere length-associated risks. Their results are published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
“Reducing risk factors like weight and alcohol consumption as well as getting more sleep and exercise can all help reverse ...
Calling for renewed Israeli-Palestinian health cooperation
2025-06-11
New editorial in the American Journal of Public Health calls for the renewal of Israeli–Palestinian public health cooperation, even amid the current conflict. Drawing on decades of joint successes—including polio eradication, measles control, maternal health advances, and epidemic surveillance—the editorial urges stakeholders to revive collaborative efforts in critical areas like immunization, environmental health, and hospital rehabilitation. Emphasizing that health partnerships have historically bridged divides, the authors argue against academic boycotts and stress that shared public health is both a moral imperative and a strategic ...
Rutgers health researchers challenge FDA warning on common epilepsy drug
2025-06-11
Rutgers Health researchers found that lamotrigine, a widely prescribed antiseizure medication, to be safe in older adults with epilepsy, contrary to a safety warning by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2.9 million adults throughout the United States are living with the neurological disorder.
Lamotrigine, sold under the brand name Lamictal, represents about 10% of all antiseizure medication use. In 2020, the FDA placed a safety warning label on lamotrigine based on reports the drug ...
In the belly of the beast: massive clumps reveal star factories from a bygone era of the cosmos
2025-06-11
Astronomers have surveyed massive, dense star factories, unlike any found in the Milky Way, in a large number of galaxies across the local universe. The findings provide a rare glimpse into processes shaping galaxies in the very early universe and possibly the Milky Way a few billion years from now.
Known as luminous and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies, or LIRGs and ULIRGs, these galaxies are relatively rare in the local universe, with only 202 known within 400 megaparsecs (1.3 billion light-years) from Earth, according to Sean Linden, a research associate at the University of Arizona Steward Observatory, who presented ...
NASA’s Webb ‘UNCOVERs’ galaxy population driving cosmic renovation
2025-06-11
Astronomers using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have identified dozens of small galaxies that played a starring role in a cosmic makeover that transformed the early universe into the one we know today.
“When it comes to producing ultraviolet light, these small galaxies punch well above their weight,” said Isak Wold, an assistant research scientist at Catholic University of America in Washington and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Our analysis of these tiny but mighty galaxies is 10 times ...
Is your gut microbiome a calorie ‘super harvester’?
2025-06-11
In the jungle of microbes living in your gut, there’s one oddball that makes methane. This little-known methane-maker might play a role in how many calories you absorb from your food, according to a new study from Arizona State University.
The entire ecosystem of microbes is called the microbiome. Some people’s gut microbiomes produce a lot of methane, while others produce hardly any.
The study found that people whose gut microbiomes produce a lot of methane are especially good at unlocking extra energy from a high-fiber diet. This may help explain why different individuals ...
Some dog breeds are more likely to get diarrhea
2025-06-11
Approximately one in every 12 dogs in the U.K. will be diagnosed with diarrhea each year, with some breeds more susceptible than others, according to a study published June 11, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Dan O’Neill from the Royal Veterinary College, U.K., and colleagues.
For this new study, researchers analyzed the health records of more than two million dogs brought to the vet in the U.K. in 2019. They estimated that 8.18% of them, or about 1-in-12, were diagnosed with diarrhea at some point during the year.
But six breeds — Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Cavapoo, German Shepherd, Yorkshire Terrier, and Cockapoo — were significantly more likely ...
Structural brain differences found in kids who experienced prenatal Superstorm Sandy exposure
2025-06-11
In a study of 34 children, the volumes of part of the brain known as the basal ganglia differed significantly between children whose parents were pregnant with them during Superstorm Sandy versus children without prenatal Sandy exposure. Donato DeIngeniis of Queens College, City University of New York, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One on June 11, 2025.
Prior research suggests that prenatal exposure to stressors, such as extreme weather, may disrupt neurodevelopment and lead to morphological differences in children’s brains—including basal ganglia volume differences. ...
Mapping patient satisfaction across U.S. hospitals reveals the Midwest as the leading region
2025-06-11
A new study analyzing more than 3,200 hospitals across the United States (U.S.) has revealed stark differences in how patients rate their hospital experiences depending on where they receive care. The research was published June 11, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One and led by Man Hung of the University of Utah, U.S., and colleagues.
Patient satisfaction in the United States is known to vary regionally, likely due to cultural, socioeconomic, and infrastructure differences. In the new study, researchers analyzed data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey from 3,286 U.S. hospitals from July ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
“Molecular bodyguard” helps infections persist
Japan’s first nationwide survey highlights gaps in patient engagement for allergy research
World’s first pig-to-human liver xenotransplant in a living recipient reported in the Journal of Hepatology
The Lancet: Tens of thousands of children aged under five suffering acute malnutrition in Gaza, recent estimates suggest
Prostate testing may not target those most likely to benefit, warn experts
Global analysis shows hidden damage from men’s alcohol use
DRI recognizes Ashley Cornish as the 2025 Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award Winner for Women in Atmospheric Sciences
Unlocking the blueprint for a powerful plant-based drug
Bringing modern science to vitamin biology: Isha Jain wins NIH Transformative Research Award
University of Houston scientists learn that rare bacterium ‘plays dead’ to survive
Introduced animals change how island plants spread, new global study finds
Mayo Clinic researchers discover ‘traffic controller’ protein that protects DNA, and may help kill cancer cells
Protein sidekick exhibits dual roles in stress granule assembly and disassembly
New hope for MS
Kennesaw State professor receives grant to study cancer origins
Pain and antidepressant drug combo linked to increased seizure risk in older adults
Cancer researchers shape new strategies for immunotherapy
Physical exercise can ‘train’ the immune system
Calm red brocket deer can learn to "Come" and other commands - but the flightiest, most restless individuals struggle
China, the world's largest tea producer, is predicted to experience increases in land suitable for tea-growing under climate change, with the overall range shifting northwards, per AI modeling study
Composing crews for Mars missions
Early humans butchered elephants using small tools and made big tools from their bones
1,000-year-old gut microbiome revealed for young man who lived in pre-Hispanic Mexico
Bears and pandas in captivity develop significantly different gut microbiomes compared to their wild counterparts, and giant pandas in particular have less diverse microbiomes than their wild counterp
Prenatal and postnatal support apps might not work
Dancing dust devils trace raging winds on Mars
Raging winds on Mars
Real-time biopsies uncover hidden response to glioblastoma therapy
Repeated brain tumor sampling uncovers treatment response in patients with glioblastoma
Novel immunotherapy combination destroys colorectal liver metastases
[Press-News.org] Decades-old mystery of AlCl dipole moment resolvedStudy paves way for advances in astrophysics and quantum technology