The production of Bose-Einstein condensates in atomic gases of alkaline elements contained in magnetic traps has opened a new direction of research in the physics of superlow temperatures. This paper explains in plain words the theory of Bose-Einstein condensation in rarefied gases, and then offers a brief overview of the experimental results.

PACS: 05.30.Jp, 32.80.Pj, 52.55.Lf (all) DOI: 10.1070/PU1997v040n06ABEH000247 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1997/6/d/ A1997XM47200004 Citation: Kadomtsev B B, Kadomtsev M B "Bose-Einstein condensates" Phys. Usp. 40 623–637 (1997) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Кадомцев Б Б, Кадомцев М Б «Конденсаты Бозе—Эйнштейна» УФН 167 649–664 (1997); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0167.199706d.0649