Ab initio potential energy curve for the helium atom pair and thermophysical properties of the dilute helium gas. II. Thermophysical standard values for low-density helium

Abstract

A helium-helium interatomic potential energy curve determined from quantum-mechanical ab initio calculations and described with an analytical representation considering relativistic retardation effects (R. Hellmann, E. Bich, and E. Vogel, Molec. Phys. (in press)) was used in the framework of the quantum-statistical mechanics and of the corresponding kinetic theory to calculate the most important thermophysical properties of helium governed by two-body and three-body interactions. The second pressure virial coefficient as well as the viscosity and thermal conductivity coefficients, the last two in the so-called limit of zero density, were calculated for 3He and 4He from 1 to 10 000 K and the third pressure virial coefficient for 4He from 20 to 10 000 K. The transport property values can be applied as standard values for the complete temperature range of the calculations characterized by an uncertainty of 0.02% for temperatures above 15 K. This uncertainty is superior to the best experimental measurements at ambient temperature.