First-order current-induced textural transition of /sup 3/He-A in a thin slab
A three-dimensional fluctuation analysis valid at all temperatures is performed on the uniform texture of /sup 3/He-A in a slab, in the presence of a uniform supercurrent parallel to the walls. A textural transition is confirmed at a critical phase gradient Q/sub c/, above which the texture must vary periodically in the plane parallel to the walls if the temperature is sufficiently close to absolute zero. In the Ginzburg-Landau regime, the texture developed above Q/sub c/ varies only in the direction perpendicular to the slab, but is nonplanar. The transition is predicted to be first order as current is increased above critical, if the slab width is very-much-less-than 10/sup -3/ cm, so that the orbital axis l and the spin axis d are effectively decoupled.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Physics, Texas AM University, College Station, Texas 77843
- OSTI ID:
- 5980494
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev., B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 20:1; ISSN PRBMD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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