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Experimenting with Absolute Zero

Posted Jan 22, 2008 at 01:53PM by Isaac C. Listed in: Physics Tags: electrical energy, Albert Einstein
Ó

Physicists experiment with absolute zero - Image 1


At negative 459.47 degrees Fahrenheit - otherwise known as 0 degrees Kelvin but better known as the state of Absolute Zero - a strange thing happens. Atoms can collapse into a extraordinary form of matter, a quantum state called a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC).

Scientists have begun experimenting with BECs and they've come up with some interesting data. In Harvard, Lene Vestegaard Hau managed to create BECs just a few millionths of a degree Fahrenheit above absolute zero.

Using lasers, Hau and her team create BECs everyday. In their work with BECs they also found that the quantum matter has a quirky quality: it slows down light, virtually halting it in its tracks. She can actually keep light inside a particle until she decides to release it.

She took this experiment a bit further, stopping a pulse of light in one BEC, converting it into electrical energy, transferring it into another BEC and then releasing it altogether. The research now seeks to use the process to improve processing speed of computers and to find new ways to store data.

Certainly brings new depths to the word "cool."

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9 Comments


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   by Charlybob - 2008-01-22
 » I dont see the point
How much faster could this make a computer really? And even if it is a decent difference, I don't see any use for this that couldn't be done with fibre optic cables instead, which aren't so needlessly complicated.


   Re: kingtoid - 2008-01-22
 » Fiberoptic cables can't actually do that much...
At absolute zero, you may know, that certain metals become superconducters. A superconducter has pretty much zero resistance. That means that your processor could have Uber speed, make almost no heat, and even use less energy.

In New York City they ran an experimental run and it has been going for a while and has worked out quite well.

One last thing on superconducters. A superconducter could (in theory) produce no EMI and would be great in computers and home theater setups.

As for the above, think: Wireless solar panels. It is a far stretctch and is somewhat improbable even in the distant future but at the least dramatically more effective solar cells could come from this.

   Re: Orlyeh - 2008-01-22
 » fiber optics
"I don't see any use for this that couldn't be done with fibre optic cables instead"

fiber optic cables can only transmit data, a processor can increase, decrease, etc that same data; the two really are quite different

   Re: Charlybob - 2008-01-22
 » Sorry if this just seems stupid but I don't see how either of those relate
I know about super conductors and stuff, but this doesn't really have much to do with that does it?

It's about being able to use light in place of electric, doesn't really seem to have much use beyond there. I see the advantage of this being a faster way to send data (hence the fibre optic cable comment), but I don't really see how that property relates to any other part of a computer.

   Re: Advertising -


   Re: TerrakaAiona - 2008-01-23
 » BEC + Atomic chip?
The Bose-Einstein Condesation experiment is useful for researching how particles behave at subatomic levels, which would probably lead to better ways of finding faster processing methods. It might not be used directly for developing faster processors, but it will still effect the process.
   by gr8tlegend - 2008-01-22
 » ....other uses
I'm not sure but either but maybe it will useful with providing alternate energy...like solar ...it would depend on how much light it can absorb and how it distributes it maybe or maybe the computer comment has something to do with keeping the cpu cool so that it can run at higher speeds without over heating?????

   by Woden501 - 2008-01-22
 » Um...
Not to be an ass or anything, but isn't that supposed to be -459.47 degrees Fahrenheit rather than positive 459.47. Just figured I would point this out as it may confuse some readers.


   Re: Ceasar S. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2008-01-22
 » Thansk for pointing that out.
Somehow the (-) disappeared. Fancy that? It's corrected now.
   by Bigbob6383 - 2008-01-25
 » Everything seems to be about computers...
I love how the article is talking about all this amazing stuff with capturing light and using all this crazy technology, but then it just goes on in the end to say that "The research now seeks to use the process to improve processing speed of computers and to find new ways to store data."
*sigh*



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