ISSN:
1573-7357
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract We have measured the solubility of 4He in liquid 3He down to ∼0.04 K at various pressures. The solubility was obtained indirectly, from the thickness of the superfluid film in contact with unsaturated solutions. We determined the film thickness from the ratio of two parallel plate capacitors with different gaps, immersed in the unsaturated liquid. The technique is described in detail, with its advantages and drawbacks, including the effects of the edge capacitance and capillary condensation. For use in interpreting the data, the adsorption area and the van der Waals potential of the cell walls were found by measuring the thickness of 3He and 4He–3He films under their vapor pressure. By fitting the temperature dependence of the solubility to the predictions of Fermi liquid theory, we determined the 4He effective mass m*4, the binding energy E 4 and the partial volume v*4, as a function of pressure. At 24 atm, a prewetting transition was observed in the 4He-rich film in contact with the liquid 3He. The transition, which is related to a similar phenomenon discovered by Tholen and Parpia at very low temperature, is explained by a simple model. An Appendix describes a new derivation of the thermodynamic functions of 3He-rich mixtures in Fermi liquid theory.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1004698911282
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