A-B Transition in Superfluid $^3$He and Cosmological Phase Transitions

Conference · Sat Jun 08 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · J.Low Temp.Phys.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-024-03151-9· OSTI ID:2311116

Hindmarsh, Mark ^[1]; Sauls, J. A. ^[2]; Zhang, Kuang ^[1]; Autti, S. ^[3]; Haley, Richard P. ^[3]; Heikkinen, Petri J. ^[4]; Huber, Stephan J. ^[5]; Levitin, Lev V. ^[4]; Lopez-Eiguren, Asier ^[6]; Mayer, Adam J. ^[3]; Rummukainen, Kari ^[7]; Saunders, John ^[4]; Zmeev, Dmitry ^[3]

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1. Sussex U.; U. Helsinki (main)
2. Louisiana State U.
3. Lancaster U.
4. Royal Holloway, U. of London
5. Sussex U.
6. Basque U., Bilbao; IKERBASQUE, Bilbao
7. U. Helsinki (main)

First-order phase transitions in the very early universe are a prediction of many extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics and could provide the departure from equilibrium needed for a dynamical explanation of the baryon asymmetry of the Universe. They could also produce gravitational waves of a frequency observable by future space-based detectors such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. All calculations of the gravitational wave power spectrum rely on a relativistic version of the classical nucleation theory of Cahn-Hilliard and Langer, due to Coleman and Linde. The high purity and precise control of pressure and temperature achievable in the laboratory made the first-order A to B transition of superfluid $^3$He ideal for test of classical nucleation theory. As Leggett and others have noted, the theory fails dramatically. The lifetime of the metastable A phase is measurable, typically of order minutes to hours, far faster than classical nucleation theory predicts. If the nucleation of B phase from the supercooled A phase is due to a new, rapid intrinsic mechanism that would have implications for first-order cosmological phase transitions as well as predictions for gravitational wave production in the early universe. Here we discuss studies of the A-B phase transition dynamics in $^3$He, both experimental and theoretical, and show how the computational technology for cosmological phase transition can be used to simulate the dynamics of the A-B transition, support the experimental investigations of the A-B transition in the QUEST-DMC collaboration with the goal of identifying and quantifying the mechanism(s) responsible for nucleation of stable phases in ultra-pure metastable quantum phases.

• Research Organization: Lancaster U.; Basque U., Bilbao; Sussex U.; Royal Holloway, U. of London; Louisiana State U.; U. Helsinki (main); IKERBASQUE, Bilbao
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-07CH11359; 89243024CSC000002
• OSTI ID: 2311116
• Report Number(s): HIP-2024-3/TH; FERMILAB-CONF-24-0028-SQMS-V; oai:inspirehep.net:2747226; arXiv:2401.07878
• Resource Type: Conference paper
• Conference Information: Journal Name: J.Low Temp.Phys.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
Cosmology
Early universe
Gravitational waves
Helium 3
Phase transitions
Time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation