What exactly happens at Absolute Zero

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of absolute zero and its implications for atomic and electron behavior. Participants explore the nature of electron motion, the effects of temperature on atomic states, and the phenomenon of Bose-Einstein Condensates, particularly in relation to near absolute zero conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that at absolute zero, atoms stop moving, but others argue that electrons do not stop orbiting due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which prevents simultaneous knowledge of position and momentum.
  • A participant mentions that Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC) occur at temperatures close to absolute zero, but clarifies that BEC does not only happen at absolute zero and can occur at higher temperatures in certain conditions.
  • There is a discussion about the nature of electrons, with some asserting that they do not "orbit" in the classical sense and cannot be thought of as solid objects, while others emphasize that electrons are affected by temperature under various circumstances.
  • Several participants express uncertainty about the implications of electron behavior at low temperatures, with some suggesting that the question may be too ambitious given the challenges of reaching absolute zero.
  • One participant highlights the distinction between electrons in atoms and conduction electrons in solids, noting that their behavior can differ significantly based on temperature and context.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach consensus on whether electrons stop orbiting or slow down at absolute zero. There are competing views on the nature of electron motion and the implications of temperature on electron behavior, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on definitions of absolute zero and the nuances of quantum mechanics that govern electron behavior. The discussion also reflects varying interpretations of experimental observations related to BEC and electron dynamics.

  • #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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