How do negative absolute zero temps (below 0 K) come about?

Subject: How do negative absolute zero temps (below 0 K) come about?

Date: Mon Apr 20 15:51:56 1998
Posted by Adam
Grade level: undergrad
School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered.
Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 893105516.Ch

Message:


The question was posed by my professor.
"We learned that the coldest possible temp. is absolute zero (0 K), 
however, if this were truly the case, Lasers could not exist.  Lasers 
can only exist in negative absolute zero temps. (below 0 K) How do 
these negative temp come about."

I know that it has something to do with the Boltzman distribution Law 
and my professor also mentioned "zero-point energy", but I'm stumped.
Please help if you can. Thanks

Re: How do negative absolute zero temps (below 0 K) come about?

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