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New form of matter earns Nobel for physics
The 2001 Nobel Prize in physics has been awarded to a team comprising Germany`s Wolfing Ketterle and Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman of the United States. The trio won the prestigious $1 million prize for creating a form of matter that is extremely pure and coherent, in the same way that lasers are a pure kind of light.
The 2001 Nobel Prize in physics has been awarded to a team comprising Germany`s Wolfing Ketterle and Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman of the United States. The trio won the prestigious $1 million prize for creating a form of matter that is extremely pure and coherent, in the same way that lasers are a pure kind of light.
The discovery of the scientists is responsible for freezing, matter into a new state that may help make microscopic computers and revolutionise aircraft guidance.
Ketterle, 43, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said, "The Nobel Prize is something really special, something extraordinary and it`s only some developments which are singled out, and even if you have done some exciting science you never know if it will obtain this ultimate recognition.” About his discovery Ketterle explained, "It is important because it is a new form of matter where atoms oscillate and lock step and they sing in unison, it is a coherent form of matter which has many novel properties and by investigating this form of matter, we learn more about nature and this is quite general and it is fundamental research but it may lead to some major applications in the future."
"This year`s Nobel laureates have succeeded -- they have caused atoms to `sing in unison` -- thus discovering a new state of matter," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in a statement.
Their "atom lasers" could in future draw microscopic computer circuits many times tinier than the smallest in use today, to build extremely fast, powerful and compact computers. Atom lasers could also power very accurate guidance systems and gravity meters that could pinpoint the position of airliners and spacecraft to within a few inches. Atoms in gases usually jangle around like billiard balls, bouncing off each other and nearby objects. But when cooled to within a hair`s breadth of absolute zero, they rank together like soldiers on parade into a new form that is neither solid, liquid nor gas. In this form they are easier to predict and control.
Bureau Report
Ketterle, 43, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said, "The Nobel Prize is something really special, something extraordinary and it`s only some developments which are singled out, and even if you have done some exciting science you never know if it will obtain this ultimate recognition.” About his discovery Ketterle explained, "It is important because it is a new form of matter where atoms oscillate and lock step and they sing in unison, it is a coherent form of matter which has many novel properties and by investigating this form of matter, we learn more about nature and this is quite general and it is fundamental research but it may lead to some major applications in the future."
"This year`s Nobel laureates have succeeded -- they have caused atoms to `sing in unison` -- thus discovering a new state of matter," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in a statement.
Their "atom lasers" could in future draw microscopic computer circuits many times tinier than the smallest in use today, to build extremely fast, powerful and compact computers. Atom lasers could also power very accurate guidance systems and gravity meters that could pinpoint the position of airliners and spacecraft to within a few inches. Atoms in gases usually jangle around like billiard balls, bouncing off each other and nearby objects. But when cooled to within a hair`s breadth of absolute zero, they rank together like soldiers on parade into a new form that is neither solid, liquid nor gas. In this form they are easier to predict and control.
Bureau Report