Scientists are constantly making groundbreaking discoveries, some of which involve the unconventional behavior of certain elements. According to recent reports, scientists have found that in certain states of matter, heat can behave like sound, meaning it can act as a sound wave. Heat is a form of energy that typically spreads gradually and then dissipates, but in rare states of matter, it can behave like a sound wave. This phenomenon is known as “second sound” and has only been observed in a few materials, according to reports. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have been able to observe this phenomenon live for the first time.
The published images show how heat can flow like sound waves in a superfluid, which is a state of matter where atoms have no friction. Physicists have observed that heat and matter “impose themselves on each other,” creating oscillations similar to sound waves.
Co-author of the study and assistant professor at MIT, Richard Fletcher, said, “It’s as if you had a tank of water and heated one part to boil.” He further explained, “If you were to observe it at that time, the water itself might seem calm, but suddenly one side would be hot, then the other side would be hot, and the heat would go back and forth, while the water appears motionless.”
The research was conducted under the guidance of Martin Zwierlein, a physics professor at MIT. According to him, this study will now allow them to investigate temperature responses. He also added that it “teaches us things that are very difficult to understand or even achieve.”
To conduct the experiment, scientists used particles that repel each other. They then cooled the atoms and applied a magnetic field to create a superfluid. A hot spot was generated using laser beams in the superfluid, and another beam was used to record heat waves. The study was published in a journal called Science and is helpful for scientists in understanding the nature of heat in superfluids, as well as other related materials such as superconductors and neutron stars.
FAQ:
1. What is “second sound” in matter?
“Second sound” is a phenomenon in which heat in matter behaves like a sound wave.
2. What are examples of materials where “second sound” has been observed?
“Second sound” has only been observed in a few materials.
3. How did scientists capture “second sound” live?
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) were able to capture “second sound” live using images that depict the flow of heat as sound waves in a superfluid.
4. What behavior is observed between heat and matter in the phenomenon of “second sound”?
Heat and matter “impose themselves on each other,” creating oscillations similar to sound waves.
5. What study was conducted by the MIT scientists?
The study was conducted to understand the nature of heat in superfluids and other related materials such as superconductors and neutron stars.
Definitions:
– “Second sound”: The phenomenon in which heat in matter behaves like a sound wave.
– Superfluid: A state of matter where atoms have no friction.
Suggested links:
– Massachusetts Institute of Technology
– Science
The source of the article is from the blog macnifico.pt