Evaporation Rate of Liquid Helium. I

Abstract

In connection with a study of the emissivity of metals at low temperatures, a quantitative analysis has been made of the factors involved in the design of storage containers for liquid helium. Experiments confirm the analysis, which has resulted in an exceedingly simple liquid-nitrogen-protected liquid helium container having a helium evaporation rate of 1 percent per day. The hemispherical emissivity of mechanically polished copper at 4.23°K was determined for blackbody radiation. For radiation corresponding to that emitted by a blackbody at 77.1°K and 297.1°K, the measured emissivities are 6.9×10−3 and 1.29×10−2, respectively. These data are discussed in relation to the recent theoretical work of Reuter and Sondheimer. The heat of vaporization of helium at 4.228°K was determined to be 4.93 cal g−1, in substantial agreement with the data of Dana and Kamerlingh Onnes. Kistemaker's thermodynamic considerations questioning the accuracy of these data are evaluated in terms of the new determination.