Inside CAL, lasers and magnetic traps are used to slow atoms down until they are almost motionless. The atoms can then form a distinct state of matter knows as Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). Ultra-cold atoms can hold their wave-like forms longer while in freefall, allowing scientists more time to observe physics at its most basic level.
Inside CAL, lasers and magnetic traps are used to slow atoms down until they are almost motionless. The atoms can then form a distinct state of matter knows as Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC). Ultra-cold atoms can hold their wave-like forms longer while in freefall, allowing scientists more time to observe and understand physics at its most basic level.