Most elementary school students learn that matter exists in three different states: gas, liquid, and solid. The states of matter, as everyone knows, describe how the atomic particles interact with one another and the distances and attractions that govern those interactions
In 1995, a fourth form of matter was created by scientists working with ultra-cold atoms. This fourth form is called Bose-Einstein condensate. Long theorized as being a potential state of matter, Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) consists of a cluster of atoms cooled to temperatures so close to absolute zero that they merge into a single quantum state. In a single quantum state, all of the particles can be described mathematically as a single unit. The distinctions between particles dissipate and the cluster functions, to a great extent, as a single unit.
Currently, the only use for BEC is for more research. Scientists are using BEC to simulate condensed matter systems, which are forms of matter in which the atoms or particles are highly concentrated. A potential application of BEC is in the development of quantum computers, which store and process information on subatomic particles. BEC is an attractive data storage solution because an infinite number of atoms can be merged into exactly the same quantum state, and would, therefore, allow for coherent transmission of information. Researchers have already had success creating BEC clouds of millions of atoms, an indication that, theoretically, the creation of large data storage clouds is feasible.
Which statement most accurately describes atoms and subatomic particles functioning in a single quantum state?
