Absolute Zero

At zero Kelvin where, theoretically, all motion stops.

'Absolute zero describes a theoretical system that neither emits nor absorbs energy. The Absolute zero temperature is known to be 0 K (–273.15 °C). It is the point at which particles have a minimum energy, determined by quantum mechanical effects, which is called the zero-point energy.'

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It has not yet been reached, but scientists have come very close to reaching it.
However, a big step was when Cornell and Wieman cooled a small sample of atoms down to only a few billionths (0.000,000,001) of a degree above Absolute Zero. That was what they needed to do to see Bose-Einstein condensation.
In September 2003, MIT announced a record cold temperature of 450 pK, or 4.5 × 10-10 K in a Bose-Einstein condensate of sodium atoms. This was performed by Wolfgang Ketterle and colleagues at MIT.

At very low temperatures in the vicinity of absolute zero, matter exhibits many unusual properties including superconductivity, superfluidity, and Bose-Einstein condensation.

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What are your thoughts on Absolute Zero? Can it be reached? If so, when do you think this goal will be accomplished? Do you think if we reached Absolute Zero that something could go horribley wrong? (Yes, I've some pretty 'out there' hypotheses.)

 

As for the possiblity that we can reach it, yes it is very possible, coming with a few billionths of a degree is amazingly close. As for what would happen I don't think anything will happen except for the fact that Atoms will cease to move that is all. If they stop moving then they will stop. Really there can be no cataclismic event from this, it will not destroy the space time continum, because time will still move just the atoms won't. So yea its possible, just I don't think that any big event will happen upon reaching it.

 

I'm sure sometimes in the future it will be able to be reached. Technology has advanced pretty far, and if somebody was able to get as close as you stated above, I'm sure someday we'll be able to hit it. Probably in the next 10-20 years. Definitely in out lifetimes. I don't suppose anything too drastic would happen: You said people got VERY close. If nothing horribly wrong happened then, and no indications of anything ABOUT to go horribly wrong happened, I doubt it will. It will just be a scientific breakthrough, which will be cool nonetheless.
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Well, I don't really care about it to much, I mean it's really just another thing people are doing just to say they can. What would people even use it for?

I'm sure people will probably reach it sometime, maybe in a few years, tecnology is advancing pretty quickly.

Nah, it's out in the universe all the time, I don't think people creating a little bit here on Earth will do any harm...I think.

Overall it's somewhat interesting but I don't see the use for it.

 

With the growth rate of our modern-day technology, absolute zero won't b that far out of reach.

As for use, I really dunno. Maybe it could freeze time and break the string theory or something...-_-

 

I think we may come immeasurably close but I’m not sure we can reach it. But then again as technology advances the impossible becomes commonplace.

As for what would happen when and if we succeed, I see two possibilities.

1)Nothing obscure, just matter that no longer moves
2)The lack of motion couples with the time dilation effect sending the atom infinitely into the future, removing matter completely form exsistence, creating a universal imballance, creating a tear in time and space.

Basically we’re either fine, or on the road to obliterating reality.

 

You guys need to keep this in mind though.
It can be shown from the laws of thermodynamics that absolute zero can never be achieved artificially, though it is possible to reach temperatures close to it through the use of cryocoolers. This is the same principle that ensures no machine can be 100% efficient.

 

Well absolute zero could be reached in maybe two to three years or so. Regardless this advance in science could be catasttrophic if it were to fall into war purposes...well thats my hypothesis anyways

 

There is no way that this could harm someone, cause inorder to achieve this, scientist use perfect conditions not to mention the area that they are doing these test is very small scale. To achieve this on a large scale....just isn't probable.

 

lets just hope so. its just that we dont know what affects it could have in an open area and testing in an openn area isn't a good idea either...

 

Thats cause it is virtually impossible.

 

how come? Why?

 

Beacause..as I already stated, you would need Ideal conditions to achieve that and to be able to do it would be next to impossible.

 

i see your point...

 

but what if you went BELOW absolute zero? then you would have a new absolute zero. besides, anythign reaching absolute zero would simply turn ito dust, because there would be nothign holding the particles together due to the fact that they arent moving, so until it turns into dust (which you probably wouldnt be able to see anyways) you havent reached absolute zero

 

I would also agree, if it had not been for the fact that scientists are finding out new facts everyday, albeit the things we do not know fully yet.

 

1) Not if you record it.

2)By contrast, a system with a truly negative temperature is not colder than absolute zero; in fact, temperatures colder than absolute zero are impossible. Rather, a system with a negative temperature is hotter than the same system with an infinite temperature.

 

1) Use a video camera to record what happens. If they have tech that can slow down footage to show mid-air bullets (Matrix) hopefully they can record what would happen.

2) I was explaining what would happen if something went below zero on the Kelvin scale.
More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_temperature

 

You can't go below absolute zero. Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature, which is what absolute implies. The rest of what you said seems invalid to the argument and doesn't make sense. Try researching the subject a bit more before you post about it.
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wow at –273.15 °C... we'll all be snowmen XD