Article ID: CBB001320840

Absolutely Negative (2013)

unapi

In the mid-1 800s, Lord Kelvin postulated that nothing could be colder than the temperature of absolute zero degrees, when all atomic particles are at rest. But in the mid-20th century, physicists realized that the mathematics governing absolute temperature indicated that subzero temperatures were possible and, soon after that they were demonstrated. Recently, the first subzero Kelvin temperatures were achieved for particles in motion. Temperature depends on the kinetic and potential energies of atoms and on the interactions between them. By using an optical lattice of laser beams, atoms could still move, but their kinetic and potential energies were held in check. Researchers controlled interactions between the atoms with magnetic fields. This discovery has implications for technology, because negative temperatures could result in more efficient heat engines, and for cosmology, because negative temperatures may explain properties of dark energy.

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Description Looks at the history of subzero temperatures and its implications for technology and cosmology.


Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001320840/

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Authors & Contributors
Nahin, Paul J.
Kragh, Helge S.
Hunt, Bruce J.
Chang, Hasok
Alessio Brioschi
Stein, Jim
Concepts
Physics
Theories of heat
Science and technology, relationships
Dark energy
Temperature
Electricity; magnetism
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
18th century
21st century
17th century
Places
United States
Spain
Germany
France
Great Britain
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