Joule expansion of a quantum gas

TL;DR

This paper explores the Joule expansion in a quantum-degenerate Bose gas, revealing quantum statistical effects and interactions that cause observable cooling and heating, unlike classical gases.

Contribution

It provides the first quantitative analysis of temperature changes during Joule expansion in a quantum Bose gas, highlighting quantum and interaction effects.

Findings

Observation of cooling and heating effects during expansion

Quantitative explanation of temperature changes due to quantum statistics

Identification of inter-particle interactions influencing thermodynamics

Abstract

We revisit the classic Joule-expansion experiments, now with a quantum-degenerate atomic Bose gas. In contrast to the classical-gas experiments, where no temperature change was measured, here we observe and quantitatively explain both cooling and heating effects, which arise, respectively, due to quantum statistics and inter-particle interactions.