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Superfluidity is a quantum effect caused by the fact that
bosons can occupy simultaneous
quantum states while
fermions cannot. So, you need two things to make a superfluid 1) a boson which 2) has a relatively small number of possible quantum states. Atomic helium-4 (and also dimeric helium-3 and atomic lithium-6) meet both of those conditions. Larger noble gases, like neon and argon, are likely lacking in one or the other things: either they are not bosons (i.e. they have a net half-integer
quantum spin, making them fermions) or they have too many sub-particles, meaning the number of quantum states that each individual atom can occupy is so large that the ensemble of atoms cannot "line-up" in the same quantum state necessary for superfluidity. --
Jayron3214:40, 8 April 2021 (UTC)reply
Each noble gas has a stable boson as its most abundant isotope. One of the most commonly used atoms for forming a
Bose–Einstein condensate is rubidium-87, so larger nuclei can achieve a large occupation number in the ground state. Any of the noble gases should be able to form a superfluid, if only they were fluid at the relevant temperature. --
Amble (
talk)
15:25, 8 April 2021 (UTC)reply
Helium is special because it remains a liquid all the way to absolute zero. (As long as the pressure isn't too high; it can freeze at higher pressure). The other noble gases only have a liquid state within a range of temperatures. Below that line, regardless of pressure, they form a solid. They don't go superfluid because they aren't fluid at the relevant temperatures. --
Amble (
talk)
14:55, 8 April 2021 (UTC)reply
Can a classical crystal become a Bose–Einstein condensate when sufficiently cooled? Our article treats the case of ideal gases and weakly interacting particles (I assume this means there's limited interaction, not that the interaction is via the weak force), but doesn't really say what happens for highly interacting particles (maybe the theory becomes intractable?). --
Trovatore (
talk)
18:23, 14 April 2021 (UTC)reply
If a doctor does a perineal surgery/incision on a man by hand, just how easy would it be for them to subsequently access this man's prostate?
If a doctor does a
perineal surgery/incision on a man by hand, just how easy would it be for them to subsequently access this man's
prostate without the help of any robots or anything like that?
Futurist110 (
talk)
21:45, 8 April 2021 (UTC)reply
This does not involve reproduction. The prostate is not a reproductive organ. Or am I not allowed to ask any questions about surgery in general here? Because I thought that the prohibition was limited to questions of a reproductive nature.
Futurist110 (
talk)
20:32, 9 April 2021 (UTC)reply
You must know that this is similar in theme, seeing as the prostate is part of the male reproductive system. This is not dissimilar from your constant line of questions about vasectomies, for example. Why do you feel the need to ask questions on this theme in the first place? --
OuroborosCobra (
talk)
21:49, 9 April 2021 (UTC)reply
Welcome to the Wikipedia Science Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a
transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the
current reference desk pages.
Superfluidity is a quantum effect caused by the fact that
bosons can occupy simultaneous
quantum states while
fermions cannot. So, you need two things to make a superfluid 1) a boson which 2) has a relatively small number of possible quantum states. Atomic helium-4 (and also dimeric helium-3 and atomic lithium-6) meet both of those conditions. Larger noble gases, like neon and argon, are likely lacking in one or the other things: either they are not bosons (i.e. they have a net half-integer
quantum spin, making them fermions) or they have too many sub-particles, meaning the number of quantum states that each individual atom can occupy is so large that the ensemble of atoms cannot "line-up" in the same quantum state necessary for superfluidity. --
Jayron3214:40, 8 April 2021 (UTC)reply
Each noble gas has a stable boson as its most abundant isotope. One of the most commonly used atoms for forming a
Bose–Einstein condensate is rubidium-87, so larger nuclei can achieve a large occupation number in the ground state. Any of the noble gases should be able to form a superfluid, if only they were fluid at the relevant temperature. --
Amble (
talk)
15:25, 8 April 2021 (UTC)reply
Helium is special because it remains a liquid all the way to absolute zero. (As long as the pressure isn't too high; it can freeze at higher pressure). The other noble gases only have a liquid state within a range of temperatures. Below that line, regardless of pressure, they form a solid. They don't go superfluid because they aren't fluid at the relevant temperatures. --
Amble (
talk)
14:55, 8 April 2021 (UTC)reply
Can a classical crystal become a Bose–Einstein condensate when sufficiently cooled? Our article treats the case of ideal gases and weakly interacting particles (I assume this means there's limited interaction, not that the interaction is via the weak force), but doesn't really say what happens for highly interacting particles (maybe the theory becomes intractable?). --
Trovatore (
talk)
18:23, 14 April 2021 (UTC)reply
If a doctor does a perineal surgery/incision on a man by hand, just how easy would it be for them to subsequently access this man's prostate?
If a doctor does a
perineal surgery/incision on a man by hand, just how easy would it be for them to subsequently access this man's
prostate without the help of any robots or anything like that?
Futurist110 (
talk)
21:45, 8 April 2021 (UTC)reply
This does not involve reproduction. The prostate is not a reproductive organ. Or am I not allowed to ask any questions about surgery in general here? Because I thought that the prohibition was limited to questions of a reproductive nature.
Futurist110 (
talk)
20:32, 9 April 2021 (UTC)reply
You must know that this is similar in theme, seeing as the prostate is part of the male reproductive system. This is not dissimilar from your constant line of questions about vasectomies, for example. Why do you feel the need to ask questions on this theme in the first place? --
OuroborosCobra (
talk)
21:49, 9 April 2021 (UTC)reply