Thermal Oscillations in Low Temperature Apparatus

The problem of spontaneous thermal oscillations in tubes leading from room temperature at one end to liquid helium temperature at the other is one of a good many years standing. Keesom1 has mentioned the effect and, more recently, Squire2 has noted a few physical characteristics of the phenomenon. Taconis3 has offered a qualitative explanation of these oscillations and Kramers4 has attempted to put this explanation on a quantitative basis using ordinary sound theory, with limited success. Kramers suggests that nonlinear effects occurring in vibrations of finite amplitude may have to be included.