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Physicists Prove Surprising Rule of Threes
Quanta Magazine ^ | May 27, 2014 | Natalie Wolchover

Posted on 05/30/2014 12:01:44 PM PDT by BenLurkin

...40 years after a Soviet nuclear physicist proposed an outlandish theory that trios of particles can arrange themselves in an infinite nesting-doll configuration, experimentalists have reported strong evidence that this bizarre state of matter is real.

...

While most forces act between pairs, such as the north and south poles of a magnet or a planet and its sun, Efimov identified an effect that requires three components to spring into action. Together, the components form a state of matter similar to Borromean rings, an ancient symbol of three interconnected circles in which no two are directly linked. The so-called Efimov “trimer” could consist of a trio of protons, a triatomic molecule or any other set of three particles, as long as their properties were tuned to the right values. And in a surprising flourish, this hypothetical state of matter exhibited an unheard-of feature: the ability to range in size from practically infinitesimal to infinite.

...

Efimov had shown that when three particles come together, a special confluence of their forces creates the Borromean rings effect: Though one is not enough, the effects of two particles can conspire to bind a third. The nesting-doll feature — called discrete scale invariance — arose from a symmetry in the equation describing the forces between three particles. If the particles satisfied the equation when spaced a certain distance apart, then the same particles spaced 22.7 times farther apart were also a solution. This number, called a “scaling factor,” emerged from the mathematics as inexplicably as pi, the ratio between a circle’s circumference and diameter.

...

Eight years later, the competition to observe a series of Efimov states has ended in a photo finish. “What you see is three groups, in three different countries, reporting these multiple Efimov states all within about one month,”

(Excerpt) Read more at simonsfoundation.org ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: efimov; ruleofthree
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To: BenLurkin
They could've coined the term throuple for this, but it was already taken…

(pronounced: "throw-upple")

21 posted on 05/30/2014 12:31:00 PM PDT by mikrofon (*Traditional* Memorial Day BUMP)
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To: BenLurkin

The trinity is fundamental physics?


22 posted on 05/30/2014 12:32:50 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: Mount Athos

Thank you for posting these links.


23 posted on 05/30/2014 12:33:58 PM PDT by miele man
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Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
Ecclesiastes 4:12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Very nice.

25 posted on 05/30/2014 12:40:18 PM PDT by fullchroma (iCitizen)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

Drisel Drasel Drasel Drone Time for Holder to Go Home!


26 posted on 05/30/2014 12:48:09 PM PDT by infool7 (The ugly truth is just a big lie.)
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To: F15Eagle

Hmmmm, G-d, Torah, and the Jewish people. I see it too!


27 posted on 05/30/2014 12:51:44 PM PDT by Phinneous
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5% Of Free Republics Community Donates.
What Is There To Say To Those Who CAN Donate But Won't?
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So 5% Supports The Rest.
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28 posted on 05/30/2014 12:52:00 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: BenLurkin

Borromean rings...

My wedding ring is made that way, one white gold, one rose gold and a yellar.


29 posted on 05/30/2014 12:52:44 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: BenLurkin
...40 years after a Soviet nuclear physicist proposed an outlandish theory that trios of particles can arrange themselves in an infinite nesting-doll configuration

Janitor: (Answering question) The answer is minus eight pi alpha.
Sheldon: Hang on a second, that's not our answer. What are you doing?
Janitor: Answering question, winning Physics Bowl.
Sheldon: How do you know anything about physics?
Janitor: Here, I am janitor. In former Soviet Union, I am physicist. Leningrad Politechnika. Go Polar Bears!


30 posted on 05/30/2014 12:54:48 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: Talisker

Much of what gets mistakenly called ‘science’ is well related to such pagan ignorance.


31 posted on 05/30/2014 1:05:32 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: BenLurkin

Back in my paramedic days cardiac arrest calls seemed to go in threes and old timers back home always said deaths in the community would be in threes. Both seemed to be generally true.


32 posted on 05/30/2014 1:10:10 PM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: aquila48

Trinity is a strictly human construct.


33 posted on 05/30/2014 1:10:13 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: BenLurkin

Zathras already prove value of Three ... and The One.


34 posted on 05/30/2014 1:12:24 PM PDT by Zathras
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To: BenLurkin

Borromean Rings.................

35 posted on 05/30/2014 1:36:13 PM PDT by Red Badger (Soon there will be another American Civil War. Will make the first one seem like a Tea Party........)
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To: mikrofon
Waiting for these aliens to ask me to threplicate.

36 posted on 05/30/2014 2:01:06 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: Talisker

Yep!


37 posted on 05/30/2014 2:03:32 PM PDT by TigersEye ("No man left behind" is more than an Army Ranger credo it's the character of America.)
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To: Raycpa

The Trinity could very possibly be embedded in physics; read the first chapter of Romans — it very clearly states that God shows Himself in and through creation.


38 posted on 05/30/2014 2:09:38 PM PDT by Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi ( Gen. 12:3: a warning to all anti-semites.)
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To: BenLurkin

Oh it’s very simple. It just proves that there is indeed, no explanation for liberalism.


39 posted on 05/30/2014 2:16:18 PM PDT by FourtySeven (47)
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To: editor-surveyor

So if a multi-thousand year old culture isn’t your version of Christian, then the entire history their study of science and the natural world is bogus.

M’kay. Thanks for the clarity.


40 posted on 05/30/2014 2:18:06 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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