Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: mrbigg on 08/03/2007 20:18:40
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I don't know if there is enough knowledge acquired yet about Bose-Einstein condensates to answer my question, but here it goes....
From what I have read about the subject, I understand that the atoms in such a condensate appear to occupy the same space.
If this is so, is there a limit to the number of atoms that can occupy that same space?
How would this affect the actual matter density of the element in question?
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My understanding of this, and others may correct me if I am wrong, is:
a) there is no theoretical limit that is known as to how many atoms (or other bosons) may condense into a Bose-Einstein condensate.
b) that they occupy the same space is not the same as saying they occupy the space that would be otherwise occupied by a single atom - on the contrary, my understanding is that each atom (or other bosons that is condensed - it does not only apply to atoms) will spread out to occupy the space also occupied by the other bosons, so there is no increase in density, only a smearing of the boundaries between one boson and its neighbours.
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Neutron stars can be considered as similar to a Bose-Einstein condensate where the density reaches about 10^14 grams/cm^3 before they collapse into a singularity
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Neutron stars are cool.
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Neutron stars are cool.
Not if you happen to be standing on one at the time [:)]
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True.
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Neutron stars are cool.
Not if you happen to be standing on one at the time [:)]
I literally laughed out loud at that reply! [:D]
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Neutron stars are cool.
They are actually immensely hot between 500 000°C and 1000 000 000°C... ;)
They are quite small so don't have much area to loose heat over, and made in supernovae.