Observation of Classical Rotational Inertia and Nonclassical Supersolid Signals in Solid He4 below 250 mK

Ann Sophie C. Rittner and John D. Reppy
Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 165301 – Published 20 October 2006

Abstract

We have confirmed the existence, as first reported by Kim and Chan, of a supersolid state in solid He4 at temperatures below 250 mK. We have employed a torsional oscillator cell with a square cross section to insure a locking of the solid to the oscillating cell. We find that the nonclassical rotational inertia signal is not a universal property of solid He4 but can be eliminated through an annealing of the solid helium sample. This result has important implications for our understanding of the supersolid state.

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  • Received 19 April 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.165301

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Ann Sophie C. Rittner and John D. Reppy*

  • Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics and the Cornell Center for Materials Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2501, USA

  • *Electronic address: jdr13@cornell.edu

See Also

Melting Curve of He4: No Sign of a Supersolid Transition down to 10 mK

I. A. Todoshchenko, H. Alles, J. Bueno, H. J. Junes, A. Ya. Parshin, and V. Tsepelin
Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 165302 (2006)

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Vol. 97, Iss. 16 — 20 October 2006

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