MEASUREMENT OF THE SURFACE-TENSION OF SUPERFLUID HE-4 AT LOW-TEMPERATURE BY CAPILLARY WAVE RESONANCES

The surface tension of liquid He-4 is determined from the frequencies of micron wavelength capillary waves. The extrapolated zero temperatur e value, sigma = 375 +/- 3 mu Jm(-2), is in agreement with the pioneer ing static capillary rise determination but 6% higher than the more re cent surface tension gravity wave measurements. Flow in the meniscus i n this latter experiment is shown, to mimic a surface tension correcti on to the dispersion relation there used which is of the same sign and magnitude as the discrepancy.