Forming a Bose-Einstein Condensate

This sequence of false-color images shows the formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate in the Cold Atom Laboratory prototype at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as the temperature gets progressively closer to absolute zero, the temperature at which atoms have almost no motion. Red in each figure indicates higher density.

JPL is developing the Cold Atom Laboratory sponsored by the International Space Station Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The Space Life and Physical Sciences Division of NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington manages the Fundamental Physics Program.

More information on CAL is online at: http://coldatomlab.jpl.nasa.gov.