Heat Conduction of the Boundary Layer in Liquid Helium II

Abstract

In experiments on the thermal conductivity of liquid helium II, an anomalous heat conduction has been found in the vicinity of the heat source. The magnitude of this effect is given as a function of temperature and is shown to be independent of the heat flux. The effect has been ascribed to a thin layer of liquid helium in the vicinity of the energy source having a poor heat conduction. The existence of this layer is probably a consequence of the finite rate of conversion from superfluid to normal particles.