Superfluid helium as a vacuum
Jun 1, 1998
What is the minimum number of atoms needed for superfluidity? According to the results of a remarkable molecular spectroscopy experiment,
there is definite proof that a system of only 60 atoms can be superfluid. Slava Grebenev and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute for Fluid Dynamics in Göttingen,
Germany,
found that small molecules dissolved in droplets of liquid helium can rotate freely,
just like they do in a vacuum (S Grebenev,
J P Toennies and A Vilesov 1998 Science 279 2083). The molecules rotate freely because the surrounding helium is a "superfluid" - a liquid without viscosity. In effect,
the liquid helium acts as a vacuum.
Please sign in
To continue reading this article please sign in below.
Not registered with physicsworld.com?
Register now
for FREE access to all In depth articles plus many other benefits. Just complete the quick and simple form.
Register now It's free!
Already registered? Then there's no need to do a thing, just sign in below.
![[IOP]](http://images.iop.org/cws/icons/themes/phw/colophon-small.png){kind=icon}
