I know that molecules can't move at absolute zero (hypothetically of course). But what happens to electrons and photons?
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4$\begingroup$ You can't get to absolute zero. The photon question is thought-provoking, though. $\endgroup$– rob ♦Commented Nov 17, 2015 at 0:11
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$\begingroup$ Do photons feel the cold ? $\endgroup$– Martin BeckettCommented Nov 17, 2015 at 0:18
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1$\begingroup$ possibly related: livescience.com/… $\endgroup$– user81619Commented Nov 17, 2015 at 0:22
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$\begingroup$ @count_to_10 That article blew my mind. I would have guessed that was impossible. $\endgroup$– userLTKCommented Nov 17, 2015 at 0:51
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$\begingroup$ What, exactly, do you mean by electrons or photons "moving"? They're not classical billard balls, they don't move in the classical sense in the first place. $\endgroup$– ACuriousMind ♦Commented Nov 17, 2015 at 2:53
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Even if you could cool down to absolute zero which is impossible due to third law of thermodynamics. there would still be quantum fluctuation. electron would not stop moving. it would still orbit around atom.
Heisenberg uncertainty principle states that we can never precisely know the position of an electron and momentum simultaneously. so therefore electron will not be in rest it wouldn't occupy fixed position. it would still have vibration because of small amount of uncertainty about where the position of electron is.
Hypothetically at absolute zero all photon would occupy lowest energy state. the system will still have non zero energy.
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$\begingroup$ "electron would not stop moving. it would still orbit around atom" The electron doesn't orbit the atom. Quantum objects don't "move" in the classical sense, it doesn't make any sense to talk about them being "at rest" unless you define what you mean by it. $\endgroup$– ACuriousMind ♦Commented Nov 17, 2015 at 2:53
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$\begingroup$ yes electron don't move like in a classical sense. By rest i meant having fixed position. @ACuriousMind $\endgroup$– MumalCommented Nov 17, 2015 at 3:08