Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
11:03
An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Visualization study of counterflow in superfluid 4He using metastable helium molecules
1Physics Department, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06515, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2010
Summary
In superfluid helium-4, researchers visualized normal-fluid flow during thermal counterflow. They found the normal fluid becomes turbulent at high velocities, presenting new physics challenges.
Area of Science:
- Low-temperature physics
- Fluid dynamics
- Quantum hydrodynamics
Background:
- Heat transfer in superfluid 4He occurs via thermal counterflow.
- Superfluid component turbulence is known above a critical heat current.
- Normal-fluid turbulence in this state was suspected but unverified due to visualization difficulties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally verify normal-fluid turbulence in superfluid 4He thermal counterflow.
- To visualize the normal-fluid component's behavior under varying heat currents.
- To investigate the implications of dual-component turbulence in superfluids.
Main Methods:
- Utilized laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) imaging.
- Seeded metastable helium molecules to track normal-fluid motion.
- Performed visualization studies in a thermal counterflow setup.
Main Results:
- Presented direct visualization evidence of normal-fluid turbulence.
- Confirmed normal-fluid turbulence occurs at relatively large velocities.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of LIF for visualizing superfluid flow dynamics.
Conclusions:
- The normal-fluid component in superfluid 4He thermal counterflow exhibits turbulence at high velocities.
- This finding confirms a long-standing hypothesis in superfluid hydrodynamics.
- Turbulent thermal counterflow with both components presents novel, theoretically challenging physics.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Couette Flow
Couette flow represents the flow of fluid between two parallel plates, with one plate fixed and the other moving with a constant velocity. This configuration allows for a simplified analysis using the Navier-Stokes equations, which govern fluid motion under conditions of viscosity and incompressibility. For Couette flow, the assumptions include a steady, laminar, incompressible flow with a zero-pressure gradient in the flow direction. This flow type is beneficial for understanding shear-driven...
01:17Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Understanding steady, laminar flow between parallel plates is essential for analyzing and designing flow in narrow rectangular channels, commonly found in various water conveyance and drainage systems. The Navier-Stokes equations govern fluid motion and are generally challenging to solve due to their nonlinearity. However, simplifications are possible in certain cases, like the steady laminar flow between parallel plates. For this scenario, we assume steady, incompressible, laminar flow.
01:23Steady, Laminar Flow in Circular Tubes
Hagen-Poiseuille flow describes a viscous fluid's steady, incompressible flow through a cylindrical tube with a constant radius R. This flow profile is often applied to understand fluid transport in narrow channels, such as capillaries. It serves as a foundational example of laminar flow. In this model, cylindrical coordinates (r,θ,z) are used to describe the radial (r), angular (θ), and axial (z) dimensions within the tube. For Hagen-Poiseuille flow, the velocity profile is purely axial,...
01:18Supercritical Fluid Chromatography
Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) provides a beneficial substitute for gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) for certain samples because it merges the top attributes of both techniques. SFC allows the separation and analysis of compounds that GC or LC does not easily manage. These compounds are traditionally nonvolatile or thermally unstable, making GC unsuitable and lacking functional groups required for HPLC analysis.
SFC utilizes a supercritical fluid mobile phase,...
SFC utilizes a supercritical fluid mobile phase,...
01:27Uniform Depth Channel Flow
Uniform depth channel flow keeps fluid depth consistent along channels such as irrigation canals. In natural channels, such as rivers, approximate uniform flow is often assumed. This condition occurs when the channel’s bottom slope matches the energy slope, balancing potential energy lost from gravity with head loss due to shear stress. This balance prevents depth changes along the channel length, resulting in a steady, uniform flow.Uniform flow in open channels with a constant cross-section...
01:34Fluid Mosaic Model
The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.LipidsThe most...