"Bosenova" -- Implosion and explosion of a Bose-Einstein condensate

National Institute of Standards and Technology ^ | Date created: 3/9/2001 Last updated: 5/2/2001 | editors

[SunkenCiv]

The condensate first shrinks as expected, but rather than gradually clumping together in a mass, there is instead a sudden explosion of atoms outward. This "explosion," which actually corresponds to a tiny amount of energy by normal standards, continues for a few thousandths of a second. Left behind is a small cold remnant condensate surrounded by the expanding gas of the explosion. About half the original atoms in the condensate seem to have vanished in that they are not seen in either the remnant or the expanding gas cloud.

[SunkenCiv]

pull my finger.

[pierrem15]

About half the original atoms in the condensate seem to have vanished in that they are not seen in either the remnant or the expanding gas cloud.

I hope the spectra of radiation they are checking include the gamma and x-ray bandwidths, or they may get some very sick physicists. Or may be neutrons: what happens to the electrons in cases where their energy level is this low?

[SunkenCiv]

don't know. Theoretical absolute zero is the point at which all continuity breaks down, and they got very close to that. Still, where did it go? This was posted on a little forum I keep, but it's from a few years ago.

[techcor]

Interesting technology bump. I've been looking into this stuff for awhile . Lithium was the element they were using at first.