Finding the true 'ground state' of matter

Jan 18, 2008 15:44 GMT  ·  By

While cooled to absolute zero a substance may freeze to form crystals into a multitude of configurations. However, identifying the spatial arrangements is prohibited by the high number of possible combinations, thus the understanding of a series of key material properties is virtually impossible. Furthermore, if you take in consideration the fact the absolute zero temperatures are not permitted in the universe, than you can fully understand the scientists' quest.

Nonetheless, mathematical and computerized models of such process are possible, and can uncover the mysteries behind the formation of crystals. That's exactly what a group of researchers from the Princeton University did. The newly discovered relations between interacting particles during crystallization can lead to the creation of new crystalline materials, such as the well known polymers in plastics.

The study conducted by chemist Salvadore Torquato could ultimately result in crystals that keep their shapes and sizes on a broad band of temperature variation. He argues that crystals represent the matter state which is the easiest to study due to the fact that individual particles such as atoms and molecules are locked in the crystalline lattice. As the temperature of a substance increases, its individual constituent breaks bonds towards each other and start to experience chaotic movement, which are impossible to study.

Absolute zero for a material basically means that the system has reached its lowest possible energy, or the so-called 'ground state'. What would actually happen to matter while experiencing absolute zero is not exactly known, but the theory predicts that even electrons would stop spinning around the atom's nucleus. Finding the true 'ground state' of matter of the other hand would give scientists an insight in the understanding of the solid state and its possible applications.

Most of the scientific studies into how crystals form involve observing molecules and how they attach to and detach from crystal bases by varying the distances between the two. Occasionally, some of the observations would point towards a mathematical model of the structure to reveal all the possible combinations of particle arrangements in a crystal.