Administration of EMP-related Publications
year | 2023 |
author(s) | Y. Tian, D. Lotnyk, A. Eyal, K. Zhang, N. Zhelev, T. S. Abhilash, A. Chavez, E. N. Smith, M. Hindmarsh, J. Saunders, E. Mueller, J. M. Parpia |
title | Supercooling of the A phase of 3He |
document type | Paper |
Keywords | topology quantum fluids phase transitions |
source | Nat Commun 14, 148 (2023) |
doi | 10.1038/s41467-022-35532-7 |
arxiv | https://arxiv.org/pdf/2208.14981.pdf |
supplemental material | https://static-content.springer.com/esm/art%3A10.1038%2Fs41467-022-35532-7/MediaObjects/41467_2022_35532_MOESM1_ESM.pdf |
EMP/Horizon2020 | This publication includes a EMP/Horizon2020 acknowledgement. |
abstract | Because of the extreme purity, lack of disorder, and complex order parameter, the first-order superfluid 3He A–B transition is the leading model system for first order transitions in the early universe. Here we report on the path dependence of the supercooling of the A phase over a wide range of pressures below 29.3 bar at nearly zero magnetic field. The A phase can be cooled significantly below the thermodynamic A–B transition temperature. While the extent of supercooling is highly reproducible, it depends strongly upon the cooling trajectory: The metastability of the A phase is enhanced by transiting through regions where the A phase is more stable. We provide evidence that some of the additional supercooling is due to the elimination of B phase nucleation precursors formed upon passage through the superfluid transition. A greater understanding of the physics is essential before 3He can be exploited to model transitions in the early universe. |