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Nature 417, 33-35 (2 May 2002) | doi:10.1038/417033a

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Condensed-matter physics: Exciton developments

Ilias E. Perakis

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The possibilities offered by Bose–Einstein condensation for investigating the quantum world continue to stretch the ingenuity of physicists. Quasiparticles known as excitons have become promising subjects for research.

The first Bose–Einstein condensate using atomic gases was created in 1995. This achievement, initially with rubidium, was made possible by the design of appropriate magnetic traps to hold the atoms, and the development of sophisticated cooling techniques1.