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Spin dynamics of {sup 3}He in aerogel

Journal Article · · Journal of Low Temperature Physics
; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States). Dept.of Physics
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Labs., CA (United States)

The authors report continuous-wave NMR measurements on superfluid {sup 3}He contained inside high porosity aerogel at 3.24 MPa, in a 28.4 mT magnetic field, and down to 0.9 mK. Three different purities of {sup 3}He were used: pure {sup 3}He, {sup 3}He with enough {sup 4}He to replace the first localized layer, and {sup 3}He with enough {sup 4}He to replace both localized layers. Below 2.26mK, the NMR spectrum does not consist of a single Lorentzian, but a distribution of NR resonant frequencies both above and below the Larmor frequency, {omega}{sub L}. Upon cooling, the component of the spectrum at frequencies below the Larmor frequency moves to higher frequencies over a narrow temperature range and does not return to {omega} < {omega}{sub L} upon warming. The higher frequency component of the spectrum displays two resolvable peaks which become a complex structure upon removal of the localized {sup 3}He spins. The spectrum changes as the magnetic field is rotated about the axis of the aerogel sample, indicating that the {sup 3}He is able to detect a preferred direction in the aerogel. The shape of the spectrum shows no rotation or magnetic field hysteresis. The authors find that the average frequency shifts of the NMR spectra do not depend on the presence of the localized {sup 3}He spins. These frequency shifts and the presence of a temperature-independent magnetization for the liquid {sup 3}He suggest that the aerogel stabilizes a single equal-spin-pairing state in the experiments.

Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
302314
Journal Information:
Journal of Low Temperature Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Low Temperature Physics Journal Issue: 5-6 Vol. 113; ISSN JLTPAC; ISSN 0022-2291
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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