What is the 5th State of Matter? Understanding the Fifth State of Matter

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the fifth state of matter, exploring various interpretations and scientific phenomena associated with it. Participants reference different states of matter, including Bose-Einstein condensates and Quark-Gluon Plasma, while also touching on related topics such as supercooled liquids.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention the traditional three states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and introduce plasma as a fourth state, suggesting that the fifth state could be Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP).
  • Others propose that the fifth state of matter might be Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), highlighting its experimental evidence from 1995 involving Rubidium atoms cooled to near absolute zero.
  • One participant describes the mechanism of laser cooling used to achieve Bose-Einstein condensation.
  • There are claims that QGP represents a new state of matter characterized by free quarks, with references to lattice QCD calculations indicating a phase transition.
  • Some participants express differing views on whether QGP is fundamentally different from ordinary plasma, with one arguing it is merely a higher energy state of plasma.
  • Questions arise about the existence of a supercooled state of matter, with clarification that supercooled liquids remain in the liquid phase but are unstable below freezing temperatures.
  • Another participant expresses confusion about the classification of states, questioning whether QGP is the seventh state and BEC the fifth.
  • A participant references a Nova program discussing BEC and its unique properties when elements are cooled to near absolute zero.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on what constitutes the fifth state of matter, with multiple competing views presented regarding QGP and BEC. The discussion remains unresolved with respect to the classification and characteristics of these states.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific definitions of states of matter, and there are unresolved questions regarding the classification of QGP and BEC. The discussion also highlights the complexities of supercooled liquids and their stability.

lakshmi
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what is the 5th state of matter
can aybody explain it
 
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You must know the 3 states of matter: liquid,solid,gaz, but at height temerature, you can also find a state called plasma(electrons are free)

The fifth state of matter you're talking about might be the QGP (Quarks and GLuon PLasma).

Scientists believe that QGP is a state where quarks are free (T = 170 Mev and epsilon = 3 GeV per fm^3), as during the first second of our universe.

Many experiments are runing now to prove its existence in Berkeley and Geneva...

I hope it's answers your question ...

Regards
 
He might be talking about Bose-Einstein condensate.
 
I did a 2nd year undergrad uni course in statistical mechanics this semester, and we touched on Bose-Einstein condensation, just by deriving certain temperatures etc.
We were told that the first experimental evidence of B-E condensation was in 1995 where Rubidium atoms were cooled to something like 4x10^-3 K, by using "laser traps"
How does this work?
 
Well, basically you have lasers that hit a group of atoms from all sides and inhibit their movement, effectively dropping their temperature.
 
rayveldkamp said:
I did a 2nd year undergrad uni course in statistical mechanics this semester, and we touched on Bose-Einstein condensation, just by deriving certain temperatures etc.
We were told that the first experimental evidence of B-E condensation was in 1995 where Rubidium atoms were cooled to something like 4x10^-3 K, by using "laser traps"
How does this work?

Actually, it's much colder- something like [tex]10^{-7} K[/tex] is more typical.

As for how they did it, take a look at http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/bec/index.html . which provides an easy introduction.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
wolverine said:
You must know the 3 states of matter: liquid,solid,gaz, but at height temerature, you can also find a state called plasma(electrons are free)

The fifth state of matter you're talking about might be the QGP (Quarks and GLuon PLasma).

Scientists believe that QGP is a state where quarks are free (T = 170 Mev and epsilon = 3 GeV per fm^3), as during the first second of our universe.

Many experiments are runing now to prove its existence in Berkeley and Geneva...

I hope it's answers your question ...

Regards

My opinion is that QGP is not anything different than ordinary Fermions+Photons plasma.You just need higher temperatures and energies go get the former.If such a plasma is obtained,then it should be regarded as a confirmation of the Standard Model,just like more "normal" plasma is.
 
Hi :biggrin:

I'm agree with you, dextercioby, when you sau that the discovery of QGP will confirm the power of the standart model, but I don't believe it's like a normal plasma.

In QGP, quarks are free, and calculations with lattice QCD show us that there where a phase transition (sign of new state of matter) during the creation of such a plasma.

See you
 
  • #10
is there anything called the supercool state of matter or something..something that happens when water is 0 deg celsius in kelvin temp..?
 
  • #11
sameerpaisari said:
is there anything called the supercool state of matter or something..something that happens when water is 0 deg celsius in kelvin temp..?

Ohhh, you are referring to a supercooled liquid. That's still the liquid phase. The only issue is, it exists below the freezing temperature and it is unstable. A small center of crystalization (like a grain of sand or another impurity) will cause the whole water to freeze.
 
  • #12
I thought that Quark-Gluon Plasma was the 7th state?
Isn't the Einstein-Bose condensate the 5th?
I know that water can occasionally get to be -10 degrees Celsius without freezing.
cheers, BT
 
  • #13
There was a nice program on Nova (pbs channel) channel on TV. that covered what you are asking about.

This program discussed a substrate that is formed when elements are cooled to near zero degree K. The particles do not act as separate elements but seem to form a common matter that acts unlike the individual element.

The program mentioned California Berkley as being the 1st site to produce it. They referred to it as the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC)

here is a link that I found http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/ultracold-atoms.html

I found this to be really interesting as my kids science books do not even mention this 5th matter.
 

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