The Josephson effect in superfluid helium and general relativity

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Abstract
A theory of the DC Josephson effect in superfluid helium is presented. The particular case of a toroidal tube with a Josephson junction, containing superfluid helium, is considered. The phase shift, the coupling mass and energy when this superfluid interferometer has an angular velocity, are obtained. The possibility of detecting the Earth's rotation and the general relativistic Lense-Thirring field due to the rotating earth, using this interferometer, is considered. Thermal fluctuations in the superfluid and the consequent limitation on the sensitivity of the interferometer are also studied. Comparison is made with the analogous case of a superconducting ring with a Josephson junction.