What exactly happens at Absolute Zero

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of electrons and atoms at temperatures approaching absolute zero. Participants clarify that while atoms may exhibit reduced motion, electrons do not stop orbiting due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which prevents them from being in a state of complete rest. The phenomenon of Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) is highlighted, occurring at temperatures near 0 Kelvin, where particles behave collectively. Notably, BEC has been observed in gases at temperatures around 2 microKelvin, demonstrating that absolute zero remains unattainable.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles, particularly the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
  • Familiarity with Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) and its formation conditions.
  • Knowledge of atomic structure and electron behavior in quantum states.
  • Basic concepts of temperature effects on particle behavior in solids and gases.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and implications of Bose-Einstein Condensates in various states of matter.
  • Explore the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and its applications in quantum mechanics.
  • Investigate the effects of temperature on electron behavior in semiconductors and conductors.
  • Study the process of neutron formation in neutron stars and the role of weak interactions.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those interested in quantum mechanics, atomic behavior, and low-temperature physics. This discussion is beneficial for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of electron motion and the implications of absolute zero.

  • #31
mgervasoni said:
I have a question, and please be nice as I am a new lover of physics:

As I understand:
1: The Bose-Einstein Condensate says the passage of light / photons can slow down at very low / near absolute 0 temperatures.
2. Einstein's theory of relativity states that the speed of light in a vacuum is the constant of the universe, not space or time or space-time, as Newton assumed.
Questions 1:
What happens inside this slowing of the passage of light in relation to (space)time? If we could slow down light, say, all around us, what would be happening?Question 2:
Is reaching absolute 0 impossible, or possible but we haven't figure out how yet?

Clarified one of your statements. As for absolute zero, thanks to quantum uncertainty, it is not reachable. Although scientists have gotten ridiculously close.
 
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  • #32
Thanks for clarifying that makes a huge difference.. but I still don't accept theories with the word quantum in the front.. maybe someday tho I'll be forced to.
 
  • #33
mgervasoni said:
Thanks for clarifying that makes a huge difference.. but I still don't accept theories with the word quantum in the front.. maybe someday tho I'll be forced to.

If you don't accept them, then you don't accept that things like transistors work? Lasers? They work exactly as described by Quantum Mechanics. It is not a coincidence.

mgervasoni said:
Isn't a free electron, electricity (electric current)?

Nope. A free electron is just a free electron.
 
  • #34
Just think of it as a prediction tool. Science is concerned with describing behavior and making predictions, not what something "really is." While I know incredibly little about quantum mechanics compared to many people here, I still highly doubt that the wacky world it describes is "true." However, whether it is true or not is completely irrelevant to the theory's validity.
 
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