How does laser cooling work?

The video explores the concept of laser cooling, a counterintuitive process where lasers are used to slow down atoms and molecules by transferring momentum through photon absorption. This technique allows scientists to achieve temperatures close to absolute zero, enabling the observation of quantum behaviors in macroscale objects. Applications include improving the accuracy of atomic clocks in satellites, which are crucial for GPS functionality. The video also touches on the fun and practical uses of lasers, such as laser hair removal.

What is laser cooling and how does it work?

Explain the counterintuitive nature of using lasers to cool atoms.

How do the specific wavelengths of light affect the process of laser cooling?

What is the significance of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in laser cooling?

How did MIT achieve a very low temperature with a gram of a substance?

What are the potential uses of achieving extremely low temperatures with laser cooling?

Describe the application of laser cooling in atomic clocks.