Measurement of vortex diffusivity and lifetime below the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in helium films

Journal Article · Wed Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Low Temperature Physics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00683314· OSTI ID:6484240

Volz, S M; Gillis, K A; Shirron, P J; Mochel, J M ^[1]

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1. Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (USA)

Using vortex pair motion, we have measured the vortex diffusivity below the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature (T{sub KT}) in atomically thin superfluid helium films on both argon and neon substrates. The diffusivities are on the order of {Dirac h}/m near T{sub KT} and then fall rapidly to 10{sup {minus}3} {Dirac h}/m near 0.1 K for argon and to 0.03 {Dirac h}/m for neon. However, for the thinnest helium film on neon, the diffusivity is large and independent of temperature. At small flow velocities, dissipation due to unpaired vortices indicates a vortex lifetime on the order of seconds for a neon substrate near 0.1 K.

• OSTI ID: 6484240
• Journal Information: Journal of Low Temperature Physics; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Low Temperature Physics; (USA) Vol. 78:5-6; ISSN 0022-2291; ISSN JLTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640450* -- Fluid Physics-- Superfluidity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ARGON
DATA ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
FILMS
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
NEON
NONMETALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RARE GASES
SUPERFLUIDITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THIN FILMS