Abstract
The nucleation of the first-order phase transition of superfluid from superfluid is quite remarkable since it requires a seed of the order of a micron. We have studied this nucleation for confined to a very dilute silica aerogel. This dirty superfluid behaves in a manner similar to previous reports for the pure superfluid. But we have discovered a novel magnetically driven nucleation switch acting on the pure superfluid- phase. Last, we find the surprising result that the proximity effect between the pure and dirty superfluids at their interface is insufficient to nucleate the phase in either superfluid.
- Received 9 October 2001
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.045505
©2002 American Physical Society