Doppler Shift Works Even At Molecular Level - Experiement Confirms

As engineers, we have studied the Doppler Effect aka Doppler Shift. Back in 1842, Christian Doppler performed experiments to prove that the frequency of wave changes for an observer in relative motion with the source of the wave. This is the reason when a car or ambulance passes by. The received frequency is higher during the approach, exact at the moment of passing by and lower during the recession. Now, researchers have shown that Doppler Shift works even at molecular level. The experiment required synchrotron to prove the existence of this effect nano level - the rotation of an individual molecule.

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Doppler Shift. Image Credit: Wikipedia

Professor T. Darrah Thomas of Oregon State University said that the effect was thought of by researcher quite a long time ago, but finally they were able to prove it beyond doubt with the experiment. Traditionally, the Doppler Effect is called "Translational" meaning the shift in frequency occurs when the observer and source are moving in a straight line. However, the effect has been now experienced during rotational motion as well. The Doppler Shift was known to exist in large bodies, like planetary rotations. When a planet rotates, the light reflecting from it exhibits has more frequency in the direction of rotation of the planet and lower in the opposite side. Scientists from various countries were working on proving that the shift works even at molecular level. Scientists believe that this is an important achievement in the study of molecules and their behavior.

Source: Oregon State University | Via: #-Link-Snipped-#