Solidification of helium in confined geometries

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Low Temperature Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754306· OSTI ID:98777

Bittner, D N; Adams, E D ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)

Solidification and melting of helium in confined geometries has been studied in a series of in situ pressure measurements, using both {sup 3}He and {sup 4}He, in porous glass with pore sizes from 12 to 191 {angstrom} in radius. These measurements covered the temperature range from 0.04 to 2 K and pressures up to 6 MPa. In {sup 3}He, a pressure minimum is observed in the pores at the same temperature as for the bulk. At large pore sizes the elevation in pressure in {sup 3}He is inversely proportional to the pore radius as predicted by the model based on homogeneous nucleation of solid as a result of density fluctuations. However, the magnitude of the pressure elevation does not agree with this model. In {sup 4}He, comparison with the model is complicated by the strong temperature-dependence of the pressure elevation.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 98777
• Journal Information: Journal of Low Temperature Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Low Temperature Physics Journal Issue: 5-6 Vol. 97; ISSN JLTPAC; ISSN 0022-2291
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
66 PHYSICS
HELIUM 3
HELIUM 4
MELTING
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
SOLIDIFICATION
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE