Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 045301 (2009)

Scientists have observed turbulence in a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC), a state of matter that can form when atoms are trapped and cooled almost to absolute zero.

Emanuel Henn at the University of São Paulo in Brazil and his colleagues used an oscillating magnetic field to shake a BEC of rubidium atoms. When the oscillation amplitude passed a certain threshold, vortices distributed in random directions emerged.

A cloud of atoms released from the trap maintained an oval shape while expanding, possibly because vortices kept it from deforming. Further study of the system might help researchers understand turbulence in ordinary fluids, the authors say.