We are familiar with the four states of matter such as solid, liquid, gas, and plasma, but little did we know that there's a fifth state called Bose-Einstein Condensate or BEC.
Recently, a group of scientists at Columbia University successfully created BEC by raising the molecular temperatures. Starting from absolute zero, they managed to produce this type of rare quantum state.
Tracing Back to the Old Days of BEC
For those unfamiliar with BEC, it's made up of sodium-cesium molecules which can only stay for up to two seconds when placed at roughly -459.66 °F.
The experts said that their latest study could open the gates about the potential of this quantum material, opening another portal of discovery about crystal phases and dipolar droplets.
According to Interesting Engineering, BEC was coined by Einstein and his fellow physicist Bose who came up with an interesting prediction that "super-chilled particles" would form a bigger mass.
It was in 1995 when BEC was created and from there, a lot of scientists had been experimenting to see what it truly holds down there.
As time passes by, scientists can't get enough of BEC and they want more complex ideas about the molecules.
Interestingly, Sebastian Will and his team cooled a sodium-cesium gas to absolute zero. The group did this with the use of magnetic manipulation and laser technology.
Related Article: Next-Gen Solar Panels Could Pave Way For Battery-Free Future
How Molecular Cooling Works
Scientists use microwaves to reach lower temperatures, which leads to molecular cooling. It's the same thing that we can experience when attempting to cool a hot tea.
The Columbia lab achieved a milestone of enhanced molecular cooling by adding a second microwave. This later created the BECs we previously mentioned.
"By controlling these dipolar interactions, we hope to create new quantum states and phases of matter," the study's co-author Ian Stevenson stated in a statement.
Dipolar Physics
With the creation of BECs in the coldest lab, the team will proceed to the next step which is deep-diving into dipolar physics.
According to Will, the team is excited to uncover a whole new world of possibilities in this process.
For more information about their study titled Observation of Bose-Einstein condensation of dipolar molecules, visit Nature.com.
In other news, a new study revealed that dogs have more advanced scent detection than most machines. Although it's already proven that these animals have a keen sense of smell, the latest research gave more emphasis to their usual capabilities: recognizing scents at very low levels.
It is interesting to know that a man's best friend can detect scent as few as 1 to 10 molecules per milliliter of water.
For other science-related news and updates that might interest you, make sure to visit Tech Times' dedicated science section here.
