A Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) is a state of matter formed at extremely low temperatures, close to absolute zero. In this state, a group of atoms behaves as a single quantum entity, allowing them to occupy the same space and energy level. This phenomenon occurs with bosons, a type of particle that follows Bose-Einstein statistics.
The concept was first predicted by physicists Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein in the 1920s. The first BEC was created in 1995 using rubidium atoms, demonstrating unique properties such as superfluidity and coherence. These properties have potential applications in quantum computing and precision measurement technologies.