Nuclear Surfing: Protons have been observed ‘catching a wave’ on the surface of an atomic nucleus

For surfers, it’s not enough just to wait for the right wave: they still have to know how to catch it. As it turns out, one challenge faced by surfers also applies to protons. An experiment recently conducted by physicists provided new information on surfing taken to its absolute extreme: protons synchronizing their movement with the vibrations of atomic nuclei.