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High Temperature Bose-Einstein Condensation Observed

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the that-sure-sounds-cool dept.

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.

2 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. The Wiki article by mr_Spook · · Score: -1, Troll

    I did check the Wikipedia article, and it just said something about how Einstien was still alive and that the effects of Bose-Einstien condensation had tripled over the last year...
    ---

    Okay seriously - I know it's convenient and all, but could we PLEASE link to something that isn't Wikipedia? That is, something where any passers-by can't just poke the "edit" button to hack the page?

  2. Possible applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    "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."

    Wronggg! The half-light (and presumably half-heavy) quasi-particles are NOT polaritons but bullshitons. If you can raise the temperature and magnetic saturation of these short-lived b'tons to greater than 300 Kelvin and 42 Hobbs respectively, the BECs will from condensates called crapons, which can spontaneously convert to energy. If anybody can achieve this, he'll surely win the Noble Prize.