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Emerging issues in helium turbulence

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Abstract

It has been appreciated recently that because helium has the lowest viscosity of any known material, it can be used in reaching the very highest Reynolds numbers and Rayleigh numbers. Critical helium gas, helium I and helium II are all candidates for such uses. Helium gas and helium I are classical fluids and the advantage stems solely from their low kinematic viscosity. Helium II obeys two-fluid equations and their use in turbulence investigations is under study. This article provides a brief introduction and review of this topic, outlining some of the progress already made and questions which need to be resolved as this relatively new field of investigation evolves. A summary of instrumentation available is included.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, Newcastle, England

    Carlo F. Barenghi

  2. Department of Physics, University of Oregon, Eugene, 97403, Oregon

    Chris J. Swanson & Russell J. Donnelly

Authors
  1. Carlo F. Barenghi
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  2. Chris J. Swanson
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  3. Russell J. Donnelly
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Barenghi, C.F., Swanson, C.J. & Donnelly, R.J. Emerging issues in helium turbulence. J Low Temp Phys 100, 385–413 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00751517

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00751517

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