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High Temperature Bose-Einstein Condensation Observed

ultracool writes "Two separate research groups claim to have observed Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in quasiparticles at much higher temperatures than atomic BEC — one at 19 Kelvin and the other at room temperature. The 19 K BEC was composed of half-matter, half-light quasi-particles called polaritons, and the room temperature condensate was composed of 'magnons' (packets of magnetic energy). There is some skepticism among physicists as to whether these really are BECs. If they are true BECs, these experiments are the first evidence of them in the solid state." Just in case you need a brush up on BEC, like I did, check out the Wikipedia article on Bose-Einstein condensation.

5 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Can't Be by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Funny

    A high-temperature Bose-Einstein condensate? It can't be.
    You know how the saying goes - "No highs, no lows, gotta be Bose!"

    Oh wait, that's a different kind of Bose.

    Nevermind.

    --
    When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  2. Wow by SpacePunk · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Magnons are the quanta of magnetic excitations in a magnetically ordered ensemble of magnetic moments."

    This statement caused my bogometer to break. Now the needle is stuck all the way right at WTF.

  3. More like O'Neil. by raka · · Score: 3, Funny

    Carter: "Well how do *you* think it's done".

    Oneil: "Magnets."

  4. Re:So Star Trek was right... by AJWM · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes, but only if you route the plasma conduits through the Heisenberg compensators.

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    -- Alastair
  5. Re:Solid State? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's good to see that I'm not the only super-genius here.