Belfast: A team of researchers in Northern Ireland has examined some hidden properties of the precious metal gold in their experiment.
The team, led by scientists from the University of Belfast, conducted a number of new experiments on this precious metal and its melting point (the temperature at which gold melts), which showed that the metal melts at high temperatures. Shows unexpected reactions.
In the experiment, scientists used high-intensity radiation to heat gold to high temperatures to observe the results at the atomic level.
Contrary to expectations, the metal stopped melting after a certain amount of heating and became harder and stronger. After that, melting the gold required an ever-increasing amount of energy.
The lasers used in the experiment were called femtosecond lasers, which operate in a very short time (ie a femtosecond, a thousandth of a second).
The scientists used femtosecond X-ray pulses to observe the changes caused by the laser.
These experiments were conducted with the help of the world’s highest resolution X-ray machines. There are only five such facilities globally.
Scientists believe that this gold discovery has far-reaching implications for industry and technology.
After these experiments, physicists are preparing to find out how other precious metals might react in this situation. According to scientists, copper, platinum and aluminum will react just like gold. While tantalum (which makes the ‘superalloy’ used to make aircraft engines) and tungsten (the main material for building fusion reactors) will react differently.
