Unlocking the Secrets of Superfluid Transitions
Editor's Summary:Understanding how heat moves in superfluids, known as "second sound," is a challenge. Yan et al. tackled this by studying a quantum gas of fermionic lithium atoms. Using radiofrequency spectroscopy, they tracked temperature changes. Heat diffused above the superfluid transition, but below, wave-like propagation was observed. —Jelena Stajic
Abstract:
Heat transport distinguishes different states of matter. In normal liquids, heat spreads out, but in superfluids, it moves as "second sound." Directly observing this is tough, often requiring detection of secondary effects. Here, we developed thermography for strongly interacting atomic Fermi gases, providing precise temperature mapping. We directly observed the superfluid phase transition, marked by a shift from thermal diffusion to second-sound propagation, along with a peak in second-sound diffusivity. This method reveals the complete heat and density response of the strongly interacting Fermi gas, uncovering key features of Landau's two-fluid hydrodynamics.
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