Bose-Einstein Condensate: A Fun Experiment or Untapped Potential?

In many scientific circles, the Bose-Einstein condensate (BECs) could be described as a myth or a futuristic essential. Some believe they could be a game-changing state of matter that enables the next generation’s technologies, while others see them as too volatile or impractical for commercial viability. Learn what the BEC is and its potential use cases. 

What Is the Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC)?

The BEC is a hypothetical state of matter suggested by a collaboration between Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath Bose. It could be the fifth state of matter, alongside liquid, gas, solid and plasma. 

The BEC appears when atoms nearly hit absolute zero, or zero degrees Kelvin. The freezing temperature forces, typically, gaseous atoms and other subatomic particles to combine, forming a wave function. Some call this union a “super atom.”

In 1995, researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder created a BEC in a laboratory with rubidium. Other experts from MIT executed the same with sodium. In 2024, innovators from Columbia University made the first BEC using molecules, when it had previously only been done with a single element. Therefore, it is possible, but its usability in industry and commercial scenarios may be few and far between. 

Many wonder about the value of another state of matter. What could it provide society? Are there any use cases for these strangely coalescing atoms?

Use Cases for BECs

These super atoms are very delicate. They are sensitive to stimuli, which could make them perfect for industrial and research applications requiring precise measurements. If the environment is appropriate, the BEC could be helpful for refining understandings of the influences of gravity, magnetism and more.

Another industry that would benefit from the BEC is quantum computing. The BEC simulates the same type of behavior as quantum bits, or qubits, which are the building blocks of quantum computers. It exists between 0 and 1, enhancing the calculations these machines can make. Superpositioning, entanglement and numerous other possibilities await.

Super atoms can also be used in laser technologies. Continuous-wave atom lasers have several theoretical applications, including assisting materials scientists and calibration experts across sectors. 

Also, it is impossible to discuss the BEC’s use cases without suggesting how much it could change generalized physics research. Quantum physics and related studies are constantly burgeoning fields, built upon so many unknowns. Using the BEC to research matter in extreme environments and phenomena like superfluidity is possible by creating these super atoms. The revelations could advance some of the world’s most critical industries, such as superconductors in electronics.

The Argument for Supporting Its Development

As mentioned, the use cases for precision measuring and quantum fields are vast, with many benefits still being undiscovered. 

There are also microgravity and atom interferometric applications. BECs can exist in microgravity, giving observers more time to study their properties. In atom interferometry, BECs quantify gravity and inertia. The combination of these two things makes it easier for people to observe interference from wave-like forms. Technologies are becoming more advanced and need resilience against these influences, making BECs arguably essential for next-generation equipment. 

Because of their microgravity behaviors, BECs are also helpful in space using optical technologies. In the last couple years, studies have used it to look into it to learn more about the Bragg processes and phase imprinting of sounding rockets, which enablesd measurements of differential forces. 

The BEC’s Limitations and Challenges

While these advantages sound promising, what has stopped researchers from making BEC a more common tool? 

BECs are not the simplest state of matter to create — it requires more than putting a liquid in a cold space to form a solid. It is a technically complex process, demanding extreme parameters. This makes it exclusive to entities with the technologies and finances to invest in the right technologies. The precision control also requires training and awareness from those working with the material in order to preserve the BEC’s potential and eliminate safety concerns. However, MIT students found a faster way to make BECs in 2017.

Some of these dangers arise from an interaction called decoherence, which describes when BECs collide with their surroundings. This stifles its entanglement properties, which could jeopardize experiments. Academics are currently employing several methods to try and overcome this trend, slowing decoherence limits with mathematical modeling. 

BECs of some atoms are also prone to metastability, which implies they can transition out of their most stable forms. This dynamic behavior is not ideal for some applications, as the structure could collapse or behave erratically, delaying valuable insights in studies. This could also be a benefit depending on the use case, but its metastability does require physicists to focus a lot of their attention on configuring the BEC’s state.

Professionals will need to find ways to better control BECs to make them more trustworthy, even in research environments. It will increase its reputation among stakeholders, encouraging investments and willingness to overcome future limitations.

FAQs About the Bose-Einstein Condensate

Learn a few more fun facts about this state of matter.

What Is the Speed of Light in the BEC?

Harvard slowed the speed of light down to 17 m/s in the BEC it created. This allowed them to harness the light within the BEC, empowering laser technologies.

What Does a BEC Look Like?

Some scientists describe the BEC as looking similar to a cherry pit under a microscope. 

Where Would You Find a BEC?

You can only find them in laboratories, because they are only created in controlled conditions. They do not naturally occur anywhere in the world because no region of the world experiences near-absolute zero conditions — otherwise that would pose more threats!

The BEC in Practice

Based on current research, the BEC feels more like untapped potential than a fun experiment. Its applications in precision engineering and research could be unprecedented, improving industrial quality control and uncovering more specific tolerances of the world’s diverse materials. Its sensitivity is its greatest strength, and if more researchers invest in it, the applications could yield new insights into countless fields.