Which of the following is correct with regard to Bose-Einstein condens...
Of the five states, the matter can be in, the Bose-Einstein condensate is perhaps the most mysterious. Gases, liquids, solids, and plasmas were all well studied for decades, if not centuries; Bose-Einstein condensates weren't created in the laboratory until the 1990s.
A Bose-Einstein condensate is a group of atoms cooled to within a hair of absolute zero. When they reach that temperature the atoms are hardly moving relative to each other; they have almost no free energy to do so. At that point, the atoms begin to clump together and enter the same energy states. They become identical, from a physical point of view, and the whole group starts behaving as though it were a single atom.
This state was first predicted, generally, in 1924–1925 by Albert Einstein following and crediting a pioneering paper by Satyendra Nath Bose on the new field now known as quantum statistics. One application for BEC is for the building of so-called atom lasers, which could have applications ranging from atomic-scale lithography to measurement and detection of gravitational fields. Hence the correct option is (a).
Which of the following is correct with regard to Bose-Einstein condens...
Explanation:
Bose-Einstein Condensate:
- Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is a unique state of matter that occurs at temperatures close to absolute zero.
- It is the fifth state of matter, following solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.
- In a BEC, a group of bosons, which are a class of subatomic particles, are cooled to temperatures very close to absolute zero, causing them to occupy the same quantum state.
- This results in a macroscopic quantum phenomenon where the atoms behave like a single entity rather than individual particles.
- The properties of a BEC are quite different from those of a normal gas, as they display wave-like behavior and coherence over macroscopic distances.
- BECs have been studied extensively in the field of quantum physics and have led to breakthroughs in understanding fundamental phenomena such as superfluidity and quantum entanglement.
Therefore, option 'A' is correct as Bose-Einstein condensate is indeed considered the fifth state of matter due to its unique quantum properties at extremely low temperatures.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.