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Effect of surface solid on the propagation of sound through superfluid /sup 4/He in grafoil

Journal Article · · J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00681142· OSTI ID:5737669

The velocity and attenuation of sound propagating through superfluid /sup 4/He confined to Grafoil pores have been measured. The data are correlated with an adsorption isotherm of surface solid /sup 4/He, grown from the pressurized liquid phase. The adsorption isotherm was obtained simultaneously in the same cell. A definite relationship exists between changes of the acoustic properties and growth of the solid layer, as suggested by Maynard et al. The sound is sensitive not only to thickness changes, but also to structural phase transitions of the solid layer. The results imply that in contrast to bulk /sup 4/He, melting and freezing in thin solid layers is not a wavelike phenomenon. Insted it is proposed that coupling of sound to the surface is achieved through an excitation of a Rayleigh wave.

Research Organization:
Department of Physics, Technion, Haifa, Israel
OSTI ID:
5737669
Journal Information:
J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Low Temp. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 58:5; ISSN JLTPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English