Solid Helium Pressurized Cell

Background:

Helium does naturally form in a solid or liquid state at room temperature, infact it is the only element that will remain in a liquid state at zero kelvin. The only way that helium is in a solid state at room temperature is when the pressure on it is around 115 kilobar. When convert to pounds per square inch, thats around a staggering 1.67 million psi (average atmospheric pressure is 14.696 psi)! However if helium is cooled to 1 kelvin then it would only take arounf 367.4 psi to create solid helium. This temperature, pressure relation for helium is the necessary background for the project.    

Goals and Objectives:

1. Calculate whether the existing pressure cell can withstand being pressurized to 30 atm at 1 kelvin. (Finish by: 11/14/20)
   1. If the current Pressure cell is unable to withstand the pressure and temperature then modify it to do so if possible. If not possible to modify the pressure cell then move on to objective 3 (Finish by date: TBD upon completion of objective 1).
2. Modify existing LabVIEW program to accommodate more temperature and pressure sensors. (Finish by: 11/21/20)
3. Design a new pressure cell from the ground up capable of withstanding 50 atm to allow for solid helium at a higher temperature:
   1. Conceptualize designs for the new pressure cell and decide the final design. (Finish by: 11/14/20)
   2. Do the necessary calculations to see if the design can withstand the conditions.(Finish by: 11/21/20)
   3. Create a more refined version of the design. (Finish by: 11/28/20)
4. Manufacture the new pressure cell. (Finish by: TBD)

Team Contact:

Name: Robert Flynn - ( raflynn@uci.edu )

Sponsor/Advisor:

Advisor:  Professor Peter Taborek  - ( ptaborek@uci.edu )

Advisor: Graduate Student Matthew Wallace ( wallacm1@uci.edu )