TEDx Talks - Recreating microsecond old universe conditions in the lab | Prof. Bedangadas Mohanty | TEDxIISERBPR
The speaker explains the process of recreating the conditions of the early universe in laboratories to study the fundamental particles like quarks and gluons. By smashing heavy ions at high speeds, scientists can achieve temperatures of 10^12 Kelvin, allowing matter to melt into its fundamental constituents. This process is conducted at facilities like the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider. The experiments have revealed that the viscosity of quark-gluon plasma is the lowest compared to any known fluid, indicating a perfect fluid state.
The talk also highlights the technological advancements resulting from these experiments, such as the development of the World Wide Web for data sharing, advanced detectors for medical imaging, and precise accelerators used in cancer treatment. The speaker emphasizes the collaborative nature of these scientific endeavors, involving thousands of scientists worldwide, and encourages young minds to join these mega science experiments to further explore the universe.
Key Points:
- Recreate early universe conditions in labs to study quarks and gluons.
- Achieve temperatures of 10^12 Kelvin to melt matter into fundamental particles.
- Quark-gluon plasma has the lowest viscosity, indicating a perfect fluid.
- Technological advancements include the World Wide Web, medical imaging, and cancer treatment.
- Encourages collaboration and participation in mega science experiments.
Details:
1. ๐ Introduction and Overview
- The introduction includes non-verbal elements like music and applause, setting an engaging tone for the session.
2. ๐ Discussing Our Planet and the Universe
- The segment begins with expressing gratitude, setting a formal tone for discussing key topics.
- The focus is on 'creating a perfect TR,' which likely stands for 'Technical Report' or a similar procedural document.
- Key steps to achieving a perfect TR include thorough research, clear structure, and actionable insights, though specific examples are not detailed in this segment.
- To improve the TR, it's important to provide detailed examples, ensure clarity, and maintain a logical flow throughout the document.
- Ensuring smooth transitions and maintaining audience engagement are highlighted as crucial for effective communication in creating a TR.
3. ๐ฌ Building Blocks of the Universe: Atoms and Beyond
- Earth, with a diameter of 12,742 KM, is the only known habitable planet, highlighting the rarity of life-supporting conditions.
- Our solar system, spanning 150 million kilometers, resides within the Milky Way galaxy, which contains trillions of stars, exemplifying the vastness of our cosmic neighborhood.
- The visible Universe, made up of millions of galaxies, stretches to a diameter of 10^26 meters, showcasing the immense scale of the cosmos.
- Atoms, derived from the Greek word for 'indivisible,' are the fundamental building blocks of all matter in the Universe, signifying their foundational role in cosmic composition.
- Pioneering work by Thomson, Rutherford, and Anderson uncovered that atoms consist of electrons, protons, and neutrons, forming the basic structure of matter.
- Further investigations revealed that protons are composed of even smaller particles, discovered through high-energy electron bombardment, indicating the complex substructure of atoms.
4. ๐ Investigating Quarks and Gluons
- Quarks and gluons are fundamental building blocks of the universe, primarily found in protons and neutrons.
- Quarks and gluons are not found in a free state in the current universe, making their direct study challenging.
- To study the properties of quarks and gluons, scientists aim to create a free system, similar to isolating water to understand hydrogen and oxygen.
- The universe was once a hot, dense state where quarks and gluons were free, specifically during a microsecond after the Big Bang, at temperatures of 10^12 Kelvin.
- Scientists can recreate early universe conditions by colliding heavy ions at high speeds in laboratories, allowing the study of quarks and gluons.
- Studying quarks and gluons helps scientists understand the fundamental forces and particles that govern the universe, providing insights into the early universe conditions and the standard model of particle physics.
5. โ๏ธ Recreating Early Universe Conditions in the Lab
- Laboratories recreate early universe conditions by achieving temperatures of 10^12 Kelvin, transforming matter into quarks and gluons.
- The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (US) and Large Hadron Collider (CERN, Switzerland) are key facilities for these experiments, enabling the study of high-energy collisions.
- The Large Hadron Collider, with a 27 km circumference, accelerates protons to complete 11,000 circuits per second, facilitating collisions at femto scales (10^-15m).
- Large-scale detectors like the ALICE detector at CERN detect matter at temperatures millions of times hotter than the Sun's core, allowing for precise analysis of fundamental physics.
- These experiments provide insights into the properties of matter under extreme conditions, advancing our understanding of fundamental particles.
6. ๐งช Measuring Viscosity and Creating Perfect Fluids
- The laboratory achieved temperatures of 10^12 Kelvin, the highest recorded in such settings, through nucleus collisions.
- Experiments recreated a microcosm of the early universe to study the properties of quarks and gluons, focusing on viscosity.
- Viscosity is defined as a fluid's resistance to flow; lower viscosity means a fluid flows more smoothly.
- Kinematic viscosity is calculated as viscosity divided by density, with a theoretical lower bound of 1/4ฯ.
- An experiment since 1927 demonstrated that pitch has a viscosity 230 billion times that of water, illustrating extreme viscosity.
- Experimental results showed that the matter forming visible matter has a viscosity approaching the lower bound of 1/4ฯ, suggesting a nearly perfect fluid.
- The findings indicate that, at these extreme temperatures, a perfect fluid state is achieved, characterized by minimal viscosity.
7. ๐ Societal Impacts and Future Scientific Endeavors
- The worldwide web, established for information exchange in 1989 and made public in 1993, has significantly transformed global communication and economic landscapes.
- Advanced detectors developed from scientific experiments are revolutionizing medical diagnostics by providing three-dimensional, colored body images, vastly improving upon traditional x-rays.
- Particle accelerators are pivotal in medical treatments like cancer radiotherapy, allowing precise targeting of diseased organs while sparing healthy tissue, thus enhancing treatment safety and effectiveness.
- Scientific collaborations engage around 2,000 individuals across 50 countries, promoting inclusivity, diversity, and equity, and setting a benchmark for large-scale international cooperation.
- Mega science projects, such as the square kilometer array for star formation and LIGO for detecting gravitational waves, offer profound insights into the universe's evolution, paving the way for future explorations.