Development of cryogenic pump for generating superfluid helium flow

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26610105
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Condensed matter physics II
• Research Institution: Osaka City University
• Principal Investigator: Yano Hideo 大阪市立大学, 大学院理学研究科, 准教授 (70231652)
• Research Collaborator: WAKASA Yohei ; OHYAMA Katuyoshi
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 低温物性 / 超流体 / 量子渦 / 超流動流

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We report the results obtained in the present study as follows, for the purpose of developing a cryogenic pump to generate a superfluid helium flow.
(1) We have successfully developed a cryogenic motor, rotating even at low temperatures below 4.2 K. To operate a motor at very low temperature, we adopted a brushless motor with a cryogenic Hall device, ferrite core with no magnetic hysteresis at low temperatures, and a sliding bearing with no grease. The motor has achieved a rotation range from 2 to 40 revolutions/second with a power below 0.25 W at a temperature of 2 K. (2) We have observed a rotating flow of superfluid helium generated by the motor. The flow rotation is almost equal to the rotation speed of the motor. (3) We developed a centrifugal pump using a helium rotation state, generating a superfluid helium flow.

Free Research Field

超低温物理学