Mass Flux Through a Cell Filled with Solid 4He Induced by the Thermo-Mechanical Effect

Abstract

We have induced a mass flow through a sample cell filled with hcp solid 4He by the imposition of a temperature difference between two reservoirs filled with superfluid liquid helium connected to each other by porous Vycor glass rods in series with the bulk solid 4He. The Vycor rods allow us to perform this experiment at pressures greater than the bulk melting pressure. The imposition of a change in the temperature difference between the reservoirs results in a rate-limited flux that creates a change in the pressure difference. The equilibrium pressure and temperature differences are in accord with predictions based on the fountain effect.