An experiment reveals what it would be like to touch a superfluid – a liquid without any friction or viscosity | Science and health

An experiment conducted by physicists at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom revealed what it would be like to touch a piece of cloth Super quantum fluid. The researchers immersed a special finger-sized probe in a helium isotope cooled to a temperature just above absolute zero. The probe recorded the physical properties of the fluid.

A superfluid is a state of matter that behaves like a fluid with no viscosity or friction. There are two isotopes of helium that can create a superfluid. When cooled to above absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius or -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit), the helium-4 isotope bosons slow down enough to become nested in a high-density cluster of atoms that behaves like a superatom.

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Experiment results showed that the surface of the superfluid forms an independent two-dimensional layer that transfers heat away from the probe. Most of the superfluids underneath act almost like a vacuum, he explained, and are completely passive and appear to be nothing Science Alert.

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“This liquid would look 2D if you could put your finger in it,” he said. “Most superfluid looks empty, while heat flows in a 2D subsystem along the edges of the mass — in other words, along your finger.” Physicist Samuli Otti, who led the investigation.

In short, dipping your finger into the superfluid will be a strange experience, to say the least: You’ll feel the heat leaving your finger and then returning to it, rising through your skin. When you put your finger into the liquid, you won’t feel anything: it’s as if there is only air beneath the surface – which is not true.

This discovery redefines the science of superfluid helium-3, the purest substance known. The researchers believe the experiment could help understand the behavior of quasiparticles, topological defects and quantum energy states.

Ramifications

The implications of this discovery are profound. Superfluid helium-3 is a substance of great scientific interest for studying collective states of matter. Understanding how the 2D layer behaves can help researchers better understand these complex systems.

Moreover, the experiment may have practical applications. For example, it can be used to develop new materials with unique properties, such as low viscosity or thermal conductivity.

Next steps

The research team plans to continue studying helium-3 superfluid to better understand its properties and effects. They also want to conduct similar experiments with other superfluids to see if the results are the same.