Some Problems in the Determination of the Latent Heat Liquid Helium

Abstract

A cryostat has been constructed for the determination of the latent heat of evaporation of liquid helium-4 from 1.8°K to the critical point. It has not yet proved possible to stabilize the cryostat behaviour sufficiently and thermal oscillations of the type reported by Taconis are strongly suspected as being the source of the difficulty. Modifications that were carried out in the design of the equipment to improve its behaviour were limited in their success so that two conclusions were reached. Firstly, a separate investigation of the problem of Taconis resonate® is necessary before reliable results can be obtained, Secondly, the existing cryostat could in the meantime readily be converted to other cryogenic uses.