We demonstrate that an unusually small pipe flow apparatus using both liquid helium
and room temperature gases can span an enormous range of Reynolds numbers. This
paper describes the construction and operation of the apparatus in some detail. A wide
range of Reynolds numbers is an advantage in any experiment seeking to establish
scaling laws. This experiment also adds to evidence already in hand that the normal
phase of liquid helium is a Navier–Stokes fluid. Finally, we explore recent questions
concerning the influence of molecular motions on the transition to turbulence (Muriel
1998) and are unable to observe any influence.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.