Atomically thin superfluid helium films on solid hydrogen

Journal Article · Mon Aug 26 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.1118· OSTI ID:5220873

Shirron, P J; Mochel, J M ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (USA)

We have measured both adsorption isotherms and third-sound resonance of atomically thin {sup 4}He films on solid hydrogen. We find helium more weakly bound to a hydrogen surface than to other rare-gas surfaces, with a van der Waals cofficient of 4.6{plus minus}0.4 K (layers){sup 3}. We have also measured third sound, at 0.18 K, down to a total helium coverage of 0.45{plus minus}0.01 atomic layer, indicating an inert coverage at {ital T}=0 K of 0.29 atomic layer or less. In common with other weak-binding substrates we also see depressions in third-sound velocity near half-layer intervals.

• OSTI ID: 5220873
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 67:9; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080800 -- Hydrogen-- Properties & Composition
640450* -- Fluid Physics-- Superfluidity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ADSORPTION ISOTHERMS
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FILMS
FLUIDS
HELIUM 4
HELIUM II
HELIUM ISOTOPES
HYDROGEN
ISOTHERMS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
QUANTUM FLUIDS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
STABLE ISOTOPES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS
THIRD SOUND
VAN DER WAALS FORCES
WETTABILITY