The Magic of Helium‐3 in Two, or Nearly Two, Dimensions
JUN 01, 1998
Despite being among the most studied physical systems, low‐temperature mixtures of helium‐3 and helium‐4 continue to exhibit phenomena that fascinate and surprise.
Imagine a cork floating on a pond. the cork floats thanks to the buoyancy provided by the displaced water. With the upward buoyant force precisely equal to the weight of the cork, the balance is perfect.
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With strong magnetic fields and intense lasers or pulsed electric currents, physicists can reconstruct the conditions inside astrophysical objects and create nuclear fusion reactors.
A crude device for quantification shows how diverse aspects of distantly related organisms reflect the interplay of the same underlying physical factors.
January 27, 2026 03:35 PM
This Content Appeared In
Volume 51, Number 6
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