could lasers be used to split an atom?

Question: could lasers be used to split an atom?
- Keywords:
  atom,
  split
Asked by confuddled213 to Mike, Pip, Tianfu, Tim, Tom on 28 Jun 2012.
- Tom Lister answered on 28 Jun 2012:
  
  Yes they could.
- Tim Stephens answered on 28 Jun 2012:
  
  I think that’s one of the things that Mike does.

Question: could lasers be used to split an atom?