Hint: Typically, we recognize four basic states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. However, there are numerous other states of matter that have been theoretically proposed, with a few observed experimentally in different contexts in space and time.
Complete step by step answer:
Based on all the research conducted to date, a total of 22 states of matter have been identified and described below:
solid : Solid has a fixed shape and volume, independent of a container, with its particles tightly packed together.
liquid : Liquid is a state of matter that lacks a fixed shape but has a definite volume, which remains unchanged under pressure.
Gas: A gas takes the shape of its container and expands to fill the entire space.
Plasma : Plasma is a state of matter composed of free charged particles, such as electrons or various ions, both positive and negative. These particles can create their own magnetic or electric fields and respond effectively within electromagnetic systems.
Excitonium : Excitonium is a state of matter consisting of particles known as excitons, which arise from quantum mechanical pairing. In low-density conditions, these excitons behave as integer particles that follow Bose statistics.
Electron degenerate matter: Electron degenerate matter is located in the cores of stars known as white dwarfs. In this state, electrons are tightly bound to their atoms but can move to neighboring atoms.
Neutron degenerate matter: Neutron degenerate matter consists of fermions, specifically neutrons, that are present in neutron stars. In this state, electrons are compelled to combine with protons through the process of beta decay.
Strange matter: Strange matter is found in the cores of neutron stars and is a type of quark matter composed of up, down, and strange quarks, which are believed to exist in these stellar environments.
Photonic matter: Photonic matter occurs within a quantum nonlinear medium, where photons behave as if they possess mass and interact with each other, leading to the creation of photonic molecules.
Quantum spin hall state: The quantum spin Hall state is a purely theoretical phase of matter that is derived from the quantum Hall state.
Bose-Einstein condensate: In a Bose-Einstein condensate, multiple bosons act as if they are a single wave or particle, resulting from the collective quantum state shared by all the bosons.
Fermionic condensate: In a fermionic condensate, pairs of fermions behave like bosons, allowing them to occupy the same quantum state without any restrictions.
Superconductivity: Superconductivity occurs in certain materials when they are cooled below a critical temperature, resulting in a state of zero electrical resistance and the expulsion of magnetic fields.
Superfluid: Superfluid is a type of cryogenic liquid that, at extremely low temperatures, exhibits zero resistance to flow.
Super solid: Super solid is akin to superfluid in that it experiences no restrictions on motion, yet it maintains a fixed shape at all times.
Quantum spin liquid: quantum spin liquid is a disordered state in which quantum spins interact with one another while remaining disordered even at very low temperatures.
String net liquid : consists of closed loops that adhere to branching rules, while dropleton refers to quasiparticles that exhibit liquid-like behaviour.
Time crystal: A time crystal is a structure that changes its arrangement in both space and time.
Rydberg polarons consist of large atoms that exist at extremely low temperatures.
Quark gluons plasma: Quark-gluon plasma is a high-energy state where quarks can move freely and exist independently.
Rydberg matter is an exotic phase that is composed solely of Rydberg atoms.
Note: Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma are referred to as the four primary states of matter. The low-temperature states include superfluid, Bose-Einstein condensate, Fermionic condensate, Rydberg molecule, Quantum Hall state, Photonic matter, and Dropleton. In contrast, high-energy states encompass electron degenerate, neutron degenerate, strange matter, and quark matter.
