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Freezing and pressure-driven flow of solid helium in Vycor
James Day1, Tobias Herman, John Beamish
1Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6J 2G1.
Physical Review Letters
|August 11, 2005
Summary
This study investigated supersolid behavior in helium-4 confined in Vycor. Researchers found no evidence of mass redistribution or supersolid flow, setting an upper limit on potential flow rates.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Low-Temperature Physics
- Quantum Materials
Background:
- Recent studies suggested a supersolid phase transition in solid helium-4 confined in Vycor.
- Supersolid behavior implies frictionless flow in a solid state.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly investigate the possibility of a supersolid phase transition in solid helium-4 confined within Vycor.
- To experimentally verify or refute the findings of previous torsional oscillator experiments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a capacitive technique to monitor density changes in confined helium-4.
- Employed a piezoelectrically driven diaphragm to study pressure-induced flow of solid helium-4 into Vycor pores.
Main Results:
- No indication of mass redistribution within the Vycor that could mimic supersolid decoupling was observed.
- An upper limit of approximately 0.003 microm/s was established for any pressure-induced supersolid flow within the Vycor pores.
Conclusions:
- The experimental results do not support the occurrence of a supersolid phase transition in solid helium-4 under the tested conditions.
- The findings place stringent limits on the potential for supersolid flow in confined helium-4 systems.
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