Electron Emission in Superfluid and Low-temperature Vapor Phase Helium
arXiv:0802.2881 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.117602
Abstract
Tungsten filaments used as sources of electrons in a low temperature liquid or gaseous helium environment have remarkable properties of operating at thousands of degrees Kelvin in surroundings at temperatures of order 1 K. We provide an explanation of this performance in terms of important changes in the thermal transport mechanisms. The behavior can be cast as a first-order phase transition.
12 pages, 3 figures