Does BE condensate release or abort energies?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter garyfang
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energies Release
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the energy dynamics involved in the condensation of particles, specifically in the context of Bose-Einstein condensates. Participants explore whether energy is released or absorbed during the condensation process and the implications of applying pressure to a system of particles.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether energy is released or aborted when a system of particles condenses, and whether energy is required for this process.
  • Another participant notes that creating a Bose-Einstein condensate involves cooling the material, with energy being transferred to photons or other forms, indicating a complex energy exchange.
  • A participant reiterates the conservation of energy principle, suggesting that the total energy of the system increases when energy is added during condensation.
  • Another participant counters that energy is not added during condensation, arguing that energy is released as the system reaches its lowest energy state when the ground state is macroscopically occupied.
  • A further comment reflects on the potential kinetic energy added by confining the particles, suggesting a different perspective on energy dynamics during the process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether energy is released or absorbed during condensation, with no consensus reached on the overall energy dynamics involved in the process.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the implications of applying pressure to a system of particles and the resulting energy changes, but the assumptions regarding the nature of the particles and their interactions remain unresolved.

garyfang
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
When a system of particles condensates, are energy released or aborted?
Is energy required to condensate a bunch of particles? In one example, if you were to shrink the volume these particles should occupy by exerting pressure to the container, energy is required. Where do these energies go when materials become condensated?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
To create a Bose-Einstein condensate, you have to cool the material - the energy goes into photons (laser cooling), hot evaporating atoms (evaporative cooling), potential energy or other things.
I don't think I get the main question of your post.
 
garyfang said:
When a system of particles condensates, are energy released or aborted?
Is energy required to condensate a bunch of particles? In one example, if you were to shrink the volume these particles should occupy by exerting pressure to the container, energy is required. Where do these energies go when materials become condensated?

I think you are asking about condensing a system of particles. I think the conservation of energy rule gives you your answer: The initial energy of the system of particles, plus the energy you put into the system of particles by condensing it, will result in the final (larger) energy of the system compared to its initial energy.

Jake
 
jaketodd said:
I think you are asking about condensing a system of particles. I think the conservation of energy rule gives you your answer: The initial energy of the system of particles, plus the energy you put into the system of particles by condensing it, will result in the final (larger) energy of the system compared to its initial energy.

Jake

You do not put energy into the system by condensing it.
Consider a system of noninteracting bosons. The condensation means that the ground state becomes macroscopically occupied. In the limit of full condensation, the ground state is fully occupied. As this is also the lowest energy state of the whole system, energy is released during condensation.
 
DrDu said:
You do not put energy into the system by condensing it.
Consider a system of noninteracting bosons. The condensation means that the ground state becomes macroscopically occupied. In the limit of full condensation, the ground state is fully occupied. As this is also the lowest energy state of the whole system, energy is released during condensation.

You're probably right, but I was thinking of the energy you put into confining the particles would add kinetic energy as the walls close in, so to speak.
 

Similar threads

Replies
14
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Replies
13
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
2K