Using multiple laser beams physicists have been able to cool

Using multiple laser beams, physicists have been able to cool and trap sodium atoms in a small region. Suppose that in one experiment, the temperature of the atoms was reduced to 0.258 mK.

(a) Determine the rms speed of the sodium atoms at this temperature. The atoms can be trapped for about 1.00 s. The trap has a linear dimension of roughly 0.50 cm.
m/s

(b) Approximately how long would it take an atom to wander out of the trap region if there were no trapping action?

Solution

Here,

temperature , T = 0.258 mK

molecular mass of sodium , M = 0.023 Kg/mole

a) RMS Speed of atoms = sqrt(3 * R*T/M)

RMS Speed of atoms = sqrt(3 * 8.314 * 0.258 *10^-3/0.023)

RMS Speed of atoms = 0.529 m/s

the rms speed of the sodium atoms at this temperature is 0.529 m/s

b)

time taken = distance/time

time taken = 0.50 *10^-2/.529 s

time taken = 9.45 *10^-3 s

the time taken to wander out of trapping zone is 9.45 *10^-3 s