Quantum Cooling To Absolute Zero-NSC Project

NSC Project
Quantum Cooling to Absolute Zero
(Write-up)
MAULIK SEHGAL

S.R.D.A.V. PUBLIC SCHOOL
DAYANAND VIHAR
DELHI-110092
How is this even possible?
This is a phenomenally fascinating topic because the way we do it is that we use a machine that looks like a bunch of pipes and tubes and solder joints but actually, it's entirely quantum mechanics. What it's based upon is the idea of zero point motion. Even at Absolute Zero, things do not stand still because of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle which states that if something has a very well-defined position, it cannot have a very well-defined momentum. This implies that it must move. So in the end, we get something that is somewhat undefined in position and somewhat undefined in momentum. Thus, essentially, it vibrates. Now, the extent of vibration depends upon their mass, i.e. a lighter particle vibrates more than a heavier particle.

Practical Applications

The Research laboratories get to about 20 millikelvin.
The record is of 1.9 millikelvin i.e. 1.9 x 10^-3 K.

This technique also called the dilution refrigerator technique is being used to cool down a gravitational wave antenna.What they are doing is that they are taking one and a half ton in weight sphere of copper aluminium alloy and with this technique they're cooling it down to 20 millikelvin to detect the change in the shape of this sphere when a gravitational wave passes by

For example: When two blackholes collide ,an object as big and as massive as a 65-centimetre 1/2 ton copper aluminium sphere will essentially shrink and expand upon passing of a gravitational wave by probably about 10 to the minus 20 meters which is less than a billionth of the size of an atom it's actually smaller than the size of a nucleus and yet we can detect the change by the sensors which are based on quantum mechanics that can detect the displacement of about 10 to the minus 21 meters.

This is one just one example of the million things that we can do with the low-temperature techniques. Other applications include testing Superconductors, Super Powerful ElectroMagnets, etc.

To conclude this, here is a fun fact.

The coldest Place in the Universe is here on the third planet of our solar system “the Earth” in the laboratories made by Humans!