Nobel Prize winners achieve Bose-Einstein condensation in alkali atoms near absolute zero.

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Updated By: History Editorial Network (HEN)
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Eric Cornell, Wolfgang Ketterle, and Carl Wieman were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in achieving Bose-Einstein condensation in dilute gases of alkali atoms and studying the properties of these condensates. Bose-Einstein condensation is a state of matter where particles move collectively in a single quantum state, typically occurring at ultra-low temperatures near absolute zero. Cornell and Wieman, working together at the University of Colorado, successfully created the first Bose-Einstein condensate using rubidium atoms in 1995. Their groundbreaking experiment cooled a gas of rubidium atoms to less than 170 nanokelvins, a fraction above absolute zero. This achievement exemplified the prediction made by physicists Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein regarding the behavior of quantum particles at near-zero temperatures. Wolfgang Ketterle, working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, made further advances in this field by producing a larger, more stable Bose-Einstein condensate. His experiments allowed for the detailed study of the condensate properties, including phenomena such as superfluidity and matter wave interference. The recognition of Cornell, Ketterle, and Wieman underlined the significance of this discovery in the realm of quantum mechanics and atomic physics. Their work has fundamentally enhanced the understanding of quantum states of matter and has opened new pathways for research in quantum computing, precision measurement, and fundamental physics experiments. The creation and examination of Bose-Einstein condensates have also spurred the development of new technologies for cooling and manipulating atoms, thus influencing various applications in metrology, telecommunications, and condensed matter physics. Their contributions embody a milestone in experimental physics and have paved the way for further exploration of quantum phenomena. Their Nobel Prize honors not only individual achievement but also the collaborative nature of scientific discovery. #NobelPrize #Physics #BoseEinstein #QuantumMechanics #ScientificDiscovery #AtomicPhysics #MoofLife
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