Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

The λ-Transition in Helium

Abstract

RECENT experiments on the inelastic scattering of neutrons by superfluid helium1,2 have given a direct confirmation of the correctness of the elementary excitation spectrum (rotons and phonons) of Landau's theory3. As it is usually formulated, the theory postulates that the excitation spectrum is independent of temperature. However, the velocity of sound is known to vary somewhat with temperature4, and the neutron scattering experiments1 show an appreciable fall in the minimum roton energy Δ, as the temperature approaches the λ-point.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Larsson, K.-E., and Otnes, K., Kamerlingh Onnes Conference, Physica, 24, S145 (1958); Arkiv för Fysik, 15, 49 (1959).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Yarnell, J. L., Arnold, G. P., Bendt, P. J., and Kerr, F. C., Phys. Rev. Letters, 1, 9 (1958); Kamerlingh Onnes Conference, Physica, 24, S146 (1958).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Landau, L. D., J. Phys. (Moscow), 5, 71 (1941); 11, 91 (1947). Feynman, R. P., and Cohen, M., Phys. Rev., 102, 1189 (1956); 107, 13 (1957).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Atkins, K. R., and Chase, C. E., Proc. Phys. Soc., A, 64, 826 (1951).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Valatin, J. G., and Butler, D., Nuovo Cim., 10, 37 (1958). Compare the situation in the theory of superconductivity, Bardeen, J., Cooper, L. N., and Schrieffer, J. R., Phys. Rev., 108, 1175 (1957).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ehrenfest, P., Proc. Kon. Acad. Wet., Amsterdam (Science Section), 36, 153 (1933).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Fairbank, W. M., Buckingham, M. J., and Kellers, C. F., Proc. Fifth Internat. Conf. on Low Temperature Physics and Chemistry, Madison, Wis., 50 (1958).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

KUPER, C. The λ-Transition in Helium. Nature 183, 1544–1545 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/1831544b0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1831544b0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing