Quantum Fluids

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A quantum fluid is a fluid where the mean distance between the particles is less than or comparable to the thermal de Broglie wavelength

${\displaystyle \mathrm{\Lambda }=h/\sqrt{(2\pi mkT)}}$,

where

${\displaystyle h}$ is Planck's constant

${\displaystyle m}$ is the mass of the particles of the fluid

${\displaystyle k}$ is the Boltzmann constant and

${\displaystyle T}$ is the absolute temperature.

In such a case there is a strong overlap of wave functions of adjacent particles and hence quantum statistics (Bose-Einstein or Fermi-Dirac) is applicable. This often results in unusual observable macroscopic phenomena, such as superfluidity, superconductivity and other 'super' transport phenomena.

Reference[edit]

• The extraordinary phases of liquid $3^{}$He. Nobel lecture by D.M.Lee.