superfluid

American  

[soo-per-floo-id] / ˌsu pərˈflu ɪd /

noun

1. a fluid that exhibits frictionless flow, very high heat conductivity, and other unusual physical properties, helium below 2.186 K being the only known example.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a superfluid.

superfluid British  

/ ˌsuːpəˈfluːɪd /

noun

1. physics a fluid in a state characterized by a very low viscosity, high thermal conductivity, high capillarity, etc. The only known example is that of liquid helium at temperatures close to absolute zero

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adjective

1. being or relating to a superfluid

superfluid Scientific  

/ so̅o̅′pər-flo̅o̅′ĭd /

1. A fluid, such as liquid helium, that flows with little or no friction at temperatures close to absolute zero.

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Other Word Forms

• superfluidity noun

Etymology

Origin of superfluid

First recorded in 1940–45; super- + fluid

Example Sentences

The microscope allowed them to observe a frictionless flow of electrons behaving like a "superfluid," moving together and oscillating at terahertz frequencies within the material.

From Science Daily

Instead of freezing, it transforms from a normal gas into a superfluid, a rare state of matter that flows without any resistance and displays strange behaviors, including creeping up the sides of containers.

From Science Daily

Physicists have long wondered what would happen if a superfluid were cooled even further.

From Science Daily

They observed a superfluid, which typically remains in constant motion, suddenly stop moving.

From Science Daily

"For the first time, we've seen a superfluid undergo a phase transition to become what appears to be a supersolid," said Dean.

From Science Daily