Observation of a superfluid component within solid helium

H. Lauter, V. Apaja, I. Kalinin, E. Kats, M. Koza, E. Krotscheck, V. V. Lauter, A. V. Puchkov

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10 Scopus citations

Abstract

We demonstrate by neutron scattering that a localized superfluid component exists at high pressures within solid helium in aerogel. Its existence is deduced from the observation of two sharp phonon-roton spectra which are clearly distinguishable from modes in bulk superfluid helium. These roton excitations exhibit different roton gap parameters than the roton observed in the bulk fluid at freezing pressure. One of the roton modes disappears after annealing the samples. Comparison with theoretical calculations suggests that the model that reproduces the observed data best is that of superfluid double layers within the solid and at the helium-substrate interface.

Original languageEnglish
Article number265301
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume107
Issue number26
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 22 2011
Externally publishedYes

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