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# Absolute zero

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Absolute zero is the temperature corresponding to 0 K. At this temperature the molecules and atoms have no [kinetic energy]?. Since the kinetic energy is related to the motion of the atoms, 0 K corresponds to the point at which all atoms are motionless. Obviously, it is not possible for the atoms to move slower than to be motionless, thus it is not possible to achieve a temperature below 0 K.

At very low temperatures in the vicinity of absolute zero, matter exhibits many unusual properties including superconductivity, superfluidity, and [Bose-Einstein condensation]?. In order to study such phenomena, scientists have worked to obtain ever lower temperatures. To date the lowest temperature ever acheived was 20 nK (20 billionths of a degree above absolute zero). This record-setting low temperature was achieved in 1995 by scientists working for NIST? in Boulder, Colorado. The work is described in the July 14, 1995 edition of the journal Science.

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Last edited August 15, 2001 5:47 pm (diff)
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