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Thermodynamics of the Two-Fluid Model of Liquid Helium II

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Abstract

THE two-fluid model for liquid helium II first put forward by the late F. London1 has been largely accepted as at least a very useful working hypothesis. There are, however, certain thermodynamical difficulties arising from this model which do not seem to have received an entirely satisfactory solution. For example, Gorter2 has pointed out that an application of the phase rule leads to a unique triple point for the co-existence of the two fluids and the vapour phase, whereas, in fact, a whole range of such points is observed; and he has suggested that this may be explained by assuming that the Gibbs function for the fluids and vapour is not linear in the concentrations.

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References

  1. London, F., Nature, 141, 643 (1938).

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  2. Gorter, C. J., Physica, 15, 523 (1949).

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  3. Smits, A., “Die Theorie der Allotropie” (Barth, 1921).

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  4. London, H., Proc. Roy. Soc., A, 171, 484 (1939).

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HERIVEL, J. Thermodynamics of the Two-Fluid Model of Liquid Helium II. Nature 174, 322–323 (1954). https://doi.org/10.1038/174322a0

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