Thermoviscous effects in steady and oscillating flow of superfluid ^4He: Experiments

Abstract

The correct interpretation of superfluid flow experiments relies on the knowledge of thermal and viscous effects that can cause deviations from ideal behavior. The previous paper presented a theoretical study of dissipative and reactive(nondissipative) thermoviscous effects in both steady and oscillating flow of an isotropic superfluid through small apertures and channels. Here, a detailed comparison is made between the theory and a wide array of experimental data. First, the calculated resistance to steady superflow is compared with measurements taken in a constant pressure-head flow cell. Second, the resonant frequency and Q of three different helmholtz oscillators are compared with predictions based on the calculated frequency response. The resonant frequency and Q are extracted numerically from the frequency response, and analytical results are given in experimentally important limits. Finally, the measured and calculated frequency response are compared at a temperature where the Helmholtz oscillator differs significantly from a simple harmonic oscillator. This difference is used to explain how the thermal properties of the oscillator affect its response. The quantitative agreement between the theory and experiment provide an excellent check of the previously derived equations. Also, the limiting expressions shown in this paper provide simple analytical expressions for calculating the effects of the various physical phenomena in a particular experimental situation.