Laser Cooling & a Fourth State of Matter?!

[mliptack]

Here is something that is not discussed... umm... ever on this site, but I thought it could be an interesting change of pace.

When we think of lasers we think of the capability of cutting a nearly endless line of materials, military defense, causing burns, performing eye surgery.... but laser cooling?!? I don't think I have ever even seen a link to anything of the like on PL. Regardless...

Laser cooling is by no means a *new* technology, early in the 1980s is when it started to gain momentum.

This technology led to the development to make what is known as a Bose-Einstein Condensation or BEC. BEC is a fourth state of matter. It is not a gas, nor solid or liquid.

I have to link to this NOVA video I watched, it is quite fascinating:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/63745/nova-absolute-zero

The video is two parts. I had seen the first part, several years ago, however, the second part I hadn't seen before. But it does a very good job of explaining BEC in detail. If you don't have time to watch the whole 1hour and 43 minute video, I suggest you start watching around 1hour 12 minutes (it starts on superconducting materials). The hour and a quarter prior to that is the history of cold and the race to liquid H2 and He.

Around approximately 1h20m they start to detail how laser cooling works. They even mention one man disassembled fax machines for the lasers inside and stabilized them to make a homemade laser cooling, among other apparatus.

Enjoy the video!

[Doc]

Doh! You really sold that to me there!

"Sorry, currently our video library can only be streamed from within the United States"

[Doc]

Ah well, I'm off to find a suitable proxy server

[buffo]

Actually, BEC is a possible *fifth* state of matter. (Jury is still out on whether all matter can be condensed to a BEC or not, and if not, then it doesn't qualify as a state for all matter.)

The fourth state of matter, however, is plasma, and if you get it hot enough, any matter will end up as plasma.

Still, laser cooling is very cool stuff. (Pun intended)

Adam

[mliptack]

Sorry DOC, if you dont mind, you should post the link so others can watch it too!

OOOPS... Brain fart... forgot about plasma.

Regarding it being a 5th state or not, researchers are well on their way. I haven't read too much on the recent discoveries etc (i've been diving into the early years of its development) but they have converted 3 elements into a condensate - regardless its still pretty cool. Especially considering the unique properties said condensate behaves.

Max