Oscillations in the Expansion of Solid He4 into Vacuum

Giorgio Benedek, Franco Dalfovo, Robert E. Grisenti, Manuel Käsz, and J. Peter Toennies
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 095301 – Published 26 August 2005

Abstract

The particle flux through a micron-sized orifice into vacuum from a source chamber filled with solid He4 exhibits a striking sequence of periodic bursts. The period increases (decreases) with pressure (temperature), vanishing at the melting point for temperatures above the upper λ point at 1.76 K. The oscillations are attributed to a periodic collapse of the solid induced by the accumulation of excess vacancies injected at the orifice and the period provides information on vacancy diffusivity. Dramatic deviations from this behavior below 1.76 K suggest important modifications in the flow properties of solid He4 induced by the excess vacancies.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 9 March 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.095301

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Giorgio Benedek, Franco Dalfovo, Robert E. Grisenti§, Manuel Käsz§, and J. Peter Toennies*

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation, Bunsenstrasse 10, 37073 Göttingen, Germany

  • *Corresponding author. Email address: jtoenni@gwdg.de
  • Permanent address: Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali and Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Via Cozzi 53, 20125 Milano, Italy.
  • Permanent address: INFM-BEC and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trento, Via Sommarive, 38050 Povo, Italy.
  • §Permanent address: Institut für Kernphysik, University of Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 1, 60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 9 — 26 August 2005

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×