I read that scientists created a substance that was below absolute zero. How is that possible? Is it some mathematical quirk in how they calculate temperature, or can it actually be said to be physically ‘colder’ than something at absolute zero? What are alternate definitions of temperature
In: Physics
Temperature is definitionally a measure of thermal energy in a system, such that when thermal energy increases in the system, temperature likewise increases.
Typically, when we impart some form of energy (not necessarily thermal) from an outside source to the system, part of that energy is converted to thermal energy in the system and so we get a nice rule of thumb that imparting energy to a system increases is temperature. Or, since temperature can only be measured from 0K and above, we can say that imparting energy to the system moves it further from absolute zero.
It is possible to artificially create a system that behaves in an opposite manner to the above description. If we were to impart energy to such a system, it would actually lose thermal energy, or in other words, it’s temperature would approach absolute zero. Because this behavior is what would be expected of a system if it were possible to have negative temperature, it is sometimes called by that name.
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