The transfer effect in liquid He II. I. The transfer phenomena

Abstract

Liquid helium undergoes a change at 2.19°K, the so-called λ point. The state above this point has been named He 1, the one below it He II. The latter modification has recently attracted much attention owing to its anomalous properties, chiefly the extremely high heat conductivity and the small viscosity. In the present paper we give a report on another anomalous property; the transport of helium along solid surfaces which are in contact with the liquid. In our first communications on this subject (Daunt and Mendelssohn 1938 a, b ) we have called this phenomenon “transfer effect”, and we shall retain this name as the term “ transport phenomena” has usually been applied generally to all phenomena in liquid He II in which an actual flow of liquid was either observed or suspected.