View source for Atom (Ray Palmer)

== Early Life and Education ==
Ray Palmer, known as [[Atom (comics)|The Atom]], was born and raised in Ivy Town, a fictional city in the United States. He showed an early interest in physics, which led him to study at Ivy University. There, he became a professor of physics, specializing in matter compression and spatial relativity.

[[Image:Detail-62800.jpg|thumb|center|Ray Palmer, also known as The Atom, in his lab at Ivy University.|class=only_on_mobile]]
[[Image:Detail-62801.jpg|thumb|center|Ray Palmer, also known as The Atom, in his lab at Ivy University.|class=only_on_desktop]]

== Discovery of the White Dwarf Star Fragment ==
Palmer's life took a dramatic turn when he discovered a fragment of a [[White dwarf|white dwarf star]]. He found that the star's dense matter could be used to shrink objects, but only for a short period before they would explode. Despite the danger, Palmer was fascinated by the potential applications of this discovery.

== Creation of the Atom Suit ==
Driven by his fascination, Palmer developed a lens using the white dwarf star fragment that could shrink objects safely. He incorporated this lens into a suit, creating the Atom Suit. This suit allowed him to shrink down to subatomic sizes while retaining his normal strength level. Palmer used a control device in his belt to regulate his size.

== Career as The Atom ==
As The Atom, Palmer became a superhero, using his ability to shrink to fight crime and assist his fellow superheroes. He was a founding member of the [[Justice League|Justice League of America]], and has also been a member of the [[Teen Titans|Teen Titans]] and the [[Justice Society of America|Justice Society of America]].

== Powers and Abilities ==
The Atom's primary power is his ability to shrink to subatomic sizes, thanks to the white dwarf star fragment in his suit. He can also increase his density to become as hard as a white dwarf star, giving him superhuman strength. Additionally, Palmer is a brilliant scientist and an expert hand-to-hand combatant.

== Personal Life ==
Outside of his superhero career, Palmer has had a tumultuous personal life. He was married to Jean Loring, a lawyer, but they divorced after she had an affair. He later had a relationship with Ryan Choi, his successor as The Atom, but this ended when Choi was killed.

== Legacy ==
Ray Palmer's legacy as The Atom has been carried on by others, including Ryan Choi and Rhonda Pineda. His work in physics has also had a significant impact on the scientific community, particularly in the field of matter compression.

== See Also ==
* [[Justice League]]
* [[Teen Titans]]
* [[Justice Society of America]]

[[Category:DC Comics characters]]
[[Category:Fictional physicists]]
[[Category:Fictional inventors]]