Abstract
The dynamics of atoms in solid have been investigated by measuring the NMR relaxation times and in the region where a significant nonclassical rotational inertia fraction has been reported. For concentrations and 24 ppm, changes are observed for both the spin-lattice relaxation time and the spin-spin relaxation time at the temperatures corresponding to the onset of the nonclassical rotational inertia fraction and, at lower temperatures, to the phase separation. The magnitudes of and at temperatures above the phase separation agree roughly with existing theory based on the tunneling of impurities in the elastic strain field due to isotopic mismatch. However, a distinct peak in and a less well-resolved feature in are observed near the reported nonclassical rotational inertia fraction onset temperature, in contrast to the temperature-independent relaxation times predicted by the tunneling theory.
- Received 17 December 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.185303
© 2011 American Physical Society
Synopsis
A probe for supersolidity—or the lack thereof
Published 6 May 2011
Nuclear magnetic resonance offers a glimmer of light at the end of quantum tunneling.
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