Buffer gas cooling could open up the field of ultracold physics

(PhysOrg.com) -- "Scientists have been making Bose-Einstein Condensates [BECs] for nearly 15 years," Charlie Doret tells PhysOrg.com. "Essentially all BEC research to date, however, begins with laser cooling. Unfortunately, laser cooling is impractical for some atoms, and it is especially difficult with molecules, limiting the scope of new research."