Scientists have achieved the impossible.
In the strange world of physics impossible is always possible. But lately, many scientists managed to exceed even this statement and to achieve what previously seemed completely unbelievable.
1. Cold cold
In the past scientists could not cooling the object to temperatures below the so-called “quantum limit”. To freeze something using the laser to slow down atoms of the substance and fuel of vibration, but still could not reduce the temperature below the quantum limit.
Only now physicists have managed to develop a drum from vibrating aluminum and reduce the temperature to 360 mckelvin, which is 10 000 times lower than temperatures in the depths of space. This achievement may one day play a role in the development of ultrafast electronics and help to unravel the behavior of particles in the quantum world.
2. The brightest light
The radiance of our own Sun is already worthy of attention. Now one has only to imagine the combined light of a billion suns. We are talking about the equivalent of what physicists recently “awakened to life” in the laboratory. Officially, it became the brightest light ever recorded on Earth, but unusually, this light also behaved in an unexpected way. He changed the appearance of objects.
3. Molecular black hole
A group of physicists recently created something that behaved like a black hole. They used the powerful x-ray laser in history – the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) to break the molecules iodomethane and odensala. The researchers expected that the beam will “beat” most of the electrons from the atom of a molecule of iodine, leaving in their place a vacuum. In the experiments with weaker lasers, this emptiness is then filled by electrons from the outer part of the atom. But when turned on LCLS, there was something amazing.
Instead of recovering itself, the atom of iodine began to “eat” electrons from neighboring atoms of hydrogen and carbon. It was like a tiny black hole within the molecule. The cycle was repeated until then, until the entire molecule exploded. The atom of iodine was the only atom, which behaved as.
4. Metallic hydrogen
It is called “the Holy Grail of physics of high pressure”, but so far no scientist has succeeded in creating metallic hydrogen. As a possible superconductor it is a very popular form of the element, which in conventional form is a gas. The possibility of transformation of hydrogen in the metal was first proposed in 1935.
Physicists have suggested that mass pressure can cause such a transformation, however, the problem was that technology could not provide so much pressure. In 2017, the American team has changed old technology and was first performed preliminary experiments in the device, called the cell of the diamond press. The device could produce overwhelming pressure of about 500 000 MPa.
5. A computer chip with brain cells
When it comes to the development of electronics, scientists suggest that once the light could someday replace the electricity. Physicists realised the potential of light in this respect until a few decades ago, when it became clear that its waves can move parallel to each other and, thus, to perform multiple tasks. Traditional electronics relies on transistors, but has recently been invented a computer chip that imitates the human brain.
He quickly “thinks”, using light rays that interact with each other similarly to the neurons. In the past was created more than a simple neural network, but the equipment takes a few cabinets. It was considered impossible to create something a little more. However, the scientists were able to make silicone new chip, the size of which is only a few millimeters.
6. The impossible form of matter
This quaint material has a rigid crystalline structure inherent to solids, at the same time is a liquid. This paradox was destined to remain unrealized because it contradicts known physics.
However, in 2016, two independent research groups made a material called “superfluid solid”. Swiss and American scientists have created a similar with the help of lasers, which changed the density of atoms in the liquid until it crystalline structure.
7. Fluid with negative mass
In 2017, physicists have developed unbelievable thing: a form of matter which is attracted to the force that repels it. The positive mass is the norm, which are used by most people: if something push, the object will accelerate in the direction in which it pushes. But for the first time was created a liquid that doesn’t behave like everything in this world, and made it from frozen Bose-Einstein condensate of rubidium atoms irradiated by lasers.
8. Crystals of time
When Frank Wilczek, physicist, Nobel prize winner, proposed the idea of the time crystals, his theory seemed crazy – especially the part that involved playing perpetual motion in the so-called “ground state”, the low energy level of energy in matter. Motion is theoretically impossible, because it requires energy, and it is almost there.
Vilcek believed that perpetual motion can be achieved by modifying the ground state of the atom of the crystal from stationary to periodic . Such atomic structure of the object is repeated in time, providing a constant “switching” without the need for energy. It was contrary to the laws of physics, but in 2017, five years after Wilczek foresaw these physicists made the first “crystals of time”, failing to achieve the rotation of the nitrogen impurities in diamond.
9. Bragg mirrors
Growth mirror can’t reflect because its size is only from 1000 to 2000 atoms. But it can reflect light, making it useful in places where you need a tiny mirror, for example, in modern electronics. This “mirror” has a conditional form: atoms suspended in vacuum, resembling a chain of beads.
In 2011 a group of German physicists has created the most reflective to date (80 percent) is similar to the mirror by drawing up ten million of the atoms of the lattice structure. Since then, the Danish and French teams has significantly reduced the number of required atoms. Instead of linking atoms grouped together, they are “strung” them in a number of microscopic optical fibers.
In addition to promising limitless advances in technology, it may one day prove to be useful in quantum devices because the atoms of the optionally used light field to interact with each other.
10. 2-D magnet
Physicists were trying to create a two-dimensional magnet with 1970-ies, but always faced with failure. This 2-D magnet must retain their magnetic properties even after it is divided to the state, which makes it two – dimensional layer with a thickness of just one atom. Scientists began to doubt whether such a magnet.
In June 2017 upon the next attempt to create a 2-D magnet, the researchers experimented with the [chrome. They got the world’s first real two-dimensional magnet, with a surprisingly warm temperature (“only” -228 degrees Celsius).
At the moment the magnet does not work at room temperature, and oxygen damages it. Despite its delicate appearance, 2-D magnets will allow physicists to complete the experiments, which was considered impossible until now.
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