Measurement of the onset of nucleate boiling in liquid xenon

Abstract

We report the first precision measurement of the superheat temperature required for bubble nucleation in liquid xenon of $\Delta T_{wall,ONB}$ = (16.9$\pm$0.5) K and $\Delta T_{wall,ONB}$ = (19.2$^{+0.4}_{-1.1}$) K at pressures of P = $(0.98\pm0.02)$ bar and P = $(1.32^{+0.05}_{-0.01})$ bar, respectively. Both are measured at a subcooled bulk fluid temperature of $\sim$ 162 K. A dedicated liquid xenon setup is used to measure the temperature at which bubble nucleation first appears on the flat surface of a resistor. The associated average heat flux at the surface of the resistor is determined using fluid dynamics simulations. Future experiments can use these experimental results to determine the likelihood of boiling in liquid xenon and to design effective thermal sinks that prevent bubble nucleation.