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A Bose-Einstein condensate is a state with macroscopic occupation of a one-particle mode. A phase-selected mean-field description can use $⟨\psi ⟩\ne 0$, while a fixed-number finite-volume state need not have a nonzero field expectation. Bose-Einstein condensation and superfluidity are related but distinct notions; long-wavelength phase fluctuations can invalidate a uniform condensate saddle in low dimensions.

The Bose-Einstein distribution gives $n_i=[\exp ((E_i-\mu )/(k_{B}T))-1{]}^{-1}$, with chemical potential below the lowest energy when its discrete occupation is finite. In the continuum approximation,If the zero-energy ground state is macroscopically occupied, its discrete occupation $N_0$ must be added to the first integral; it contributes no energy to the second. This distinction is essential when applying the formulas to Bose-Einstein condensation.

For fixed particle number, Bose-Einstein condensation means that a macroscopic fraction occupies the single-particle ground state. As $\mu \uparrow 0$, the excited-state population reaches its maximumAt the transition this equals $N$, soBelow $T_c$, the chemical potential is approximately zero in the large-$N$ continuum description. Additional particles occupy the ground state, givingFor finite $N$, the actual chemical potential remains slightly negative; the saturation statement is the macroscopic approximation used here.

At fixed temperature, the excited population is largest as $\mu \uparrow 0$, henceIf $N>N_{ϵ}^{\max }$, the excited levels cannot accommodate all particles. The excess $N-N_{ϵ}^{\max }$ occupies the zero-energy level macroscopically: this is Bose-Einstein condensation.

The Bose-Einstein distribution isPositivity requires $\mu$ not to exceed the ground-state energy, here zero. For a finite system above the condensation limit one has $\mu <0$; it approaches zero from below at Bose-Einstein condensation.

In the continuum limit the number outside the ground state isAt the largest allowed chemical potential, $\mu =0$, the integrand behaves near zero as $E^{d/\alpha -2}$. The integral is finite exactly when $d/\alpha >1$. Excess particles must then occupy the ground state, so a Bose-Einstein condensate exists precisely for $\alpha <d$.

Bosons have symmetric many-particle states, so any number may occupy the same one-particle state. At low temperature, an ideal Bose gas therefore places a macroscopic population in its lowest one-particle state; below the critical temperature this is Bose-Einstein condensation.

Fermions have antisymmetric many-particle states and obey the Pauli exclusion principle, so each one-particle state can hold at most one fermion of each available internal label. At zero temperature, a noninteracting Fermi gas fills distinct states in increasing order of energy up to the Fermi energy. Its many-particle ground state is thus the filled Fermi sea.

A superfluid exhibits superfluidity, with phase stiffness and a phase-gradient current. In an appropriate ordered or quasi-ordered regime it supports low-speed flow without viscous dissipation, and its long-wavelength Goldstone boson has a sound-like dispersion. True thermodynamic phase selection and Bose-Einstein condensation need separate infrared conditions.

Superfluidity is a quantum-fluid response with phase stiffness and flow without viscous dissipation in an appropriate low-speed regime. A superfluid supports a phase-gradient current; defects and excitations can limit that flow. Bose-Einstein condensation concerns macroscopic one-particle occupation and is a distinct criterion: the Gaussian phase stiffness theory can have divergent absolute-phase fluctuations while retaining a cost for gradients.