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Science 24 April 1998:
Vol. 280. no. 5363, p. 519
DOI: 10.1126/science.280.5363.519
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Research News

PHYSICS:
From a Turbulent Maelstrom, Order

James Glanz

Four years ago, researchers discovered a bizarre phenomenon whereby vortices in turbulent gases of electrons arrange themselves in neat, long-lasting "crystals." Now a team of physicists has offered an explanation: Each large vortex in these electron fluids acts as a Mixmaster, stirring the background flow and increasing its entropy. That opens the way for the vortices to gel into predictable, orderly, crystalline patterns.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)