Take the 2-minute tour ×  Is it possible to create periodic
potentials that instead of creating a well for an atom to be
trapped in, repulsed by that specific location?  If yes, can we
use this as a means to make artificial objects that we can feel,
with let's say our hands, by putting lots of these repulsive
points together?  This is an idea that I have in order to make
holograms that we can feel like the holodeck in Star Trek.
share|improve this question ...It's a periodic potential. The
atoms are repelled from the peaks and fall into the valleys..
what is it that you to be different? Also if you want of
holodecks I think you will find the forces involved in this sort
of physics to be rather underwhelming. –  BebopButUnsteady Aug 5
'11 at 0:18  1 Answer 1  up vote 1 down vote accepted  Atoms in
an optical lattice are attracted to high/low field states
depending on the quantum state the atom is in. Atoms in states
that would be shifted down in energy by the application of an
electric field are drawn to low-