Liquid Helium Superfluid

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
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Liquid helium basically forms a very thin layer of fluid across the entire surface of the container in which it is stored. If the container has any hole or is uncovered, this allows the helium to siphon itself out of the container and escape.:)
 

Pheran

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2001
5,740
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91
If you'd like more info about cool (pun intended) low-temperature effects, watch the upcoming Nova episode Absolute Zero: The Race for Absolute Zero airing on January 15th. Part 1 (The Conquest of Cold) was about the history of cold, which basically stopped just before the modern day - I expect all the really interesting stuff like superfluidity to be in this second part.
 

destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
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Originally posted by: RESmonkey
a never ending fountain, eh?


Could this somehow be turned into a source of energy?

well.. will the superfluid remain at that super cold temperature on its own for long, or does it need constant cooling? Cooling to nearly absolute zero requires energy, as does creating the temperature difference in the fluid that forces that never ending fountain.
 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: RESmonkey
a never ending fountain, eh?


Could this somehow be turned into a source of energy?

Even if you could keep the whole assembly cold, once you start sucking energy out of the it the fountain would quickly fail.
 

RESmonkey

Diamond Member
May 6, 2007
4,818
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Originally posted by: destrekor
Originally posted by: RESmonkey
a never ending fountain, eh?


Could this somehow be turned into a source of energy?

well.. will the superfluid remain at that super cold temperature on its own for long, or does it need constant cooling? Cooling to nearly absolute zero requires energy, as does creating the temperature difference in the fluid that forces that never ending fountain.

True.

And I want to do this somehow (watch zero viscosity fluids :) )