MIT researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of quantum fluids, finding that heat can travel through materials in a wavelike manner known as second sound. This phenomenon, previously thought to be unique to superfluid helium, has been observed in other exotic materials and may hold the key to understanding thermal transport in high-temperature superconductors.
In a study published in arXiv, researchers from the Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission and the University of Grenoble Alpes used new imaging techniques to capture temperature pulses bouncing through helium at extremely low temperatures. The team found that these waves traveled at speeds of up to 49 feet per second, defying traditional notions of how heat spreads.
The discovery of second sound has significant implications for our understanding of energy flow in quantum fluids and may lead to breakthroughs in fields such as superconductors and cooling systems. By studying the behavior of vortex lines and internal turbulence, researchers hope to uncover new insights into how energy is lost in these materials.
One of the most surprising findings is that second sound remains nearly unchanged across different temperatures, suggesting that something else plays a larger role than previously thought. This discovery opens up new avenues for research and may even shed light on cosmic phenomena such as neutron star interiors.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/physicists-confirm-the-fascinating-existence-of-second-sound