Can liquid helium conduct heat infinitely fast?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the thermal conductivity of liquid helium in its superfluid state, specifically questioning whether it can conduct heat infinitely fast. Participants explore the implications of superfluidity on heat transfer and its associated phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if liquid helium in its superfluid state can conduct heat infinitely fast, recalling a paper that suggested this idea.
  • Another participant asserts that no causal signal can propagate faster than the speed of light, implying a limitation on heat conduction speed.
  • A later reply reiterates the previous point about the speed of light, expressing confusion regarding the earlier mentioned article.
  • It is noted that superfluid helium-4 is an excellent thermal conductor, but the speed of conduction remains finite. Additionally, it is mentioned that heat transfer can occur as heat waves, referred to as "second sound," alongside ordinary thermal diffusion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the possibility of infinite heat conduction in superfluid helium, with some asserting finite speeds and others expressing uncertainty.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of causal signals and the properties of superfluid helium, which may not be fully resolved.

YoungPhysicist
Insights Author
Messages
350
Reaction score
203
Can liquid helium is superfluidity state conduct heat infinitely fast?

I thought I have seen this is a paper somewhere a long time ago, but now I am not sure about that.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You can't have any causal signal propagate faster than speed of light.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: YoungPhysicist
hilbert2 said:
You can't have any causal signal propagate faster than speed of light.
Yeah.That is exactly what I am confused about that article a long time ago.
 
The superfluid ##^4 He## is a really good thermal conductor, but the speed of conduction is still finite. Another remarkable property of it is that heat transfer can occur as heat waves ("second sound") in addition to ordinary thermal diffusion.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: YoungPhysicist

Similar threads

Need advice and hints for working with helium
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
1K
High School Superfluid Helium and its use at CERN
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
3K
Graduate Avalanche photon detectors
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
442
Undergrad Ideal working gas for a Stirling engine
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Graduate Are composite particles, like atoms, identical bosons/fermions?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Graduate How can bosons made of fermions occupy the same quantum state?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Undergrad Can Self-Running Heat Pumps Revolutionize Home Efficiency?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
High School Is it possible to apply thermodynamics to magnetic/weak/nuclear fields
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
How can vacuum heating be calculated for substrates in a chamber?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
High School Determining Electron's Momentum and Position Simultaneously
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K