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The A-B transition in superfluid helium-3 under confinement in a thin slab geometry
N Zhelev1, T S Abhilash1, E N Smith1
1Department of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Nature Communications
|July 4, 2017
Summary
Confinement stabilizes superfluid helium-3
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Fluids
Background:
- Superfluid helium-3 exhibits distinct phases (A and B) sensitive to confinement.
- Confinement can stabilize the A phase and potentially lead to novel phases like the stripe phase.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the influence of nanoscale confinement on superfluid helium-3 phase transitions.
- Map the phase diagram of superfluid helium-3 in a nanofluidic cavity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a high-precision torsion pendulum.
- Studied superfluid helium-3 confined within a 1.08-μm-thick nanofluidic cavity.
- Mapped the phase diagram across a pressure range of 0.1 to 5.6 bar.
Main Results:
- Observed minimal supercooling of the A phase, differing from bulk or aerogel confinement.
- Evidence suggests a non-monotonic pressure dependence and an intrinsic B-phase nucleation mechanism under confinement.
- Strong coupling between A and B phases was present at all measured pressures.
Conclusions:
- Confinement significantly alters superfluid helium-3 phase behavior, stabilizing the A phase.
- The observed phenomena have implications for the predicted stripe phase stability.
- Results indicate a pressure-dependent nucleation mechanism unique to confined superfluid helium-3.
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