Anomalous Softening of He-4 Crystals

作者:Rojas Xavier*; Haziot Ariel; Bapst Victor; Balibar Sebastien; Maris Humphrey J
来源:Physical Review Letters, 2010, 105(14): 145302.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.145302

摘要

We have measured the elasticity of high quality ultrapure He-4 single crystals in the low temperature region where supersolidity is supposed to occur. At 20 mK, our results are consistent with elastic coefficients previously measured at 1.2 K. As the temperature increases from 20 to 100 mK, a large softening occurs because dislocations unpin from He-3 impurities. In the absence of He-3 impurities, dislocations are free to move down to 20 mK; the crystals are soft. The large magnitude of this anomalous softening shows that dislocations form a mobile mosaic structure. It illustrates the remarkable quantum plasticity of He-4 crystals.

  • 出版日期2010-9-30