The minimum temperature, also known as absolute zero, is defined as -273.15 °C or 0 Kelvin, where total stillness is reached and there is no molecular movement.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Planck temperature, considered the “absolute heat”, which is estimated to be around 142 quintillion Kelvin (1.42·1032 degrees Celsius), a threshold where the laws of physics as we know them cease to be applicable.
To put this in perspective, the temperature of the core of the Sun is approximately 15 million Kelvin, while in some remnants of supernovae temperatures close to a billion degrees can be recorded.
Exploring Absolute Zero and the Limits of Temperature
Experiments conducted at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN have achieved temperatures exceeding 5 trillion Kelvin, but the Planck temperature remains theoretically unreachable with our current technological capabilities.
The concept of “heat” implies a transfer of energy, and understanding Planck’s temperature requires delving into the realm of quantum physics. In this context, heat is related to emissions in the electromagnetic spectrum.
However, the upper limit of this spectrum is defined by the Planck distance, which prevents more thermal energy from being effectively transferred.
Given the extreme nature of Planck temperature, this figure leads us to consider phenomena such as the Big Bang and black holes, where contemporary physical laws do not apply adequately.
The search for a unifying theory that integrates relativity with quantum physics continues, as it could provide new perspectives on the nature of heat and the universe as a whole.