# Calculating the Bose-Einstein Condensation Temperature

by Mr LoganC
Tags: bose, condensate, einstein, temperature
 P: 19 1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data Estimate the Bose-Einstein condensation temperature of Rb 87 atoms with density of 10^11 atoms per cm^3. 2. Relevant equations $T=\frac{n^{2/3}h^{2}}{3mK_{B}}$ 3. The attempt at a solution This should be just a standard plug and chug question, but my answers are not even close to reasonable! I would expect to get anywhere from 500nK to 50nK for an answer, but I am getting thousands of Kelvin! Are my units wrong? I am using Boltzman constant with units of $eV\bullet K^{-1}$ and Plank's with units of $eV\bullet s$. Then I am using the density in Atoms per m^3 and the mass of a single Rb 87 atom in Kg. Am I missing something here with units? That is the only thing I can think is wrong.
 P: 112 At first glance I would use joules (Nxm) instead of eV since since other units are SI...
P: 19
 Quote by bloby At first glance I would use joules (Nxm) instead of eV since since other units are SI...
But since the plank constant is on the top and Boltzman on the bottom, the converting factor of eV to joules (1.6x10^-19) would cancel out anyway, so whether it's in eV or Joules should not matter.

P: 19
Calculating the Bose-Einstein Condensation Temperature

 Quote by Mr LoganC But since the plank constant is on the top and Boltzman on the bottom, the converting factor of eV to joules (1.6x10^-19) would cancel out anyway, so whether it's in eV or Joules should not matter.
Actually, that IS the problem! I think you are correct, Bloby. Because the Plank constant is squared on the top, so there is still another 1.6x10^-19 to factor in there! I will give it a shot and see what I get for an answer!

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It Worked! Thank you Bloby! Final answer was 16nK, which seems pretty reasonable to me for a Bose-Einstein Condensate.

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