LXVI THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



conceived research he succeeded in accomplishing this feat in 1908, 

 and in doing it reached a temperature within approximately 1° or 2° 

 of the absolute zero. 



The amount of liquid helium which Onnes obtained in his investi- 

 gation was small, but it sufficed to enable him to show that a number 

 of the elements possessed a remarkable "super-conductivity" at this 

 low temperature. Mercury, in particular, at the temperature of 

 liquid helium, possessed an electrical conductivity ten million times 

 greater than at ordinary room temperature, and currents started by 

 induction in a coil of lead wire at the temperature of liquid helium 

 maintained their intensity for more than an hour with but little 

 diminution in magnitude. 



The results obtained by Onnes, although limited in number, are 

 of great importance, for they show that if liquid helium were rendered 

 available in quantity, fundamental information of the greatest value 

 on such problems as those connected with electrical and thermal 

 conduction, with specific and atomic heats, with magnetism and the 

 magnetic properties of substances, with phosphorescence, with the 

 origin of radiation, and with atomic structure, could be obtained. 



In spectroscopy supplies of liquid helium would enable us to 

 extend our knowledge of the fine structure of spectral lines and 

 thereby enable us to obtain clearer ideas regarding the electronic 

 orbits existing in the atoms of the simpler elements. This would 

 lead naturally to clearer views on the subject of atomic structure 

 generally. 



In other fields, too, important information could be obtained 

 by the use of temperatures between that of liquid hydrogen and that 

 of liquid helium. What of radioactivity? Would this property be 

 lost by uranium, thorium, radium, and other similar elements at 

 temperatures attainable with liquid helium? Would all chemical 

 action cease at these temperatures? Would photochemical action 

 disappear completely? Would photoelectric action cease or be main- 

 tained at such low temperatures? 



In the fields of biological and botanical research information on 

 problems pressing for solution could be gained also. For example, 

 would all life in spores and bacteria be extinguished by subjecting 

 them to temperatures in the neighbourhood of absolute zero? 



The list of problems rendered capable of attack by the use of 

 liquid helium might be easily extended, but those cited already will 

 serve to show that the field is large, and that it is well worth while 

 for us to make a special eflfort to secure adequate financial support 

 for the equipment and maintenance of a cryogenic laboratory within 



