On the electric activity of superfluid helium at the excitation of first and second sound waves

We show that the electric activity of superfluid helium (HeII) observed in the experiments [3] during the excitation of standing second sound waves in an acoustic resonator can be described in terms of the phenomenological mechanism of the inertial polarization of atoms in a dielectric, in particular, in HeII, when the polarization field induced in the medium is proportional to the mechanical acceleration, by analogy with the Stewart-Tolman effect. The variable relative velocity w = v _n − v _s of the normal and superfluid HeII components that emerges in the second sound wave determines the mean group velocity of rotons, V _g ≈ w, with the density of the normal component related to their equilibrium number density in the temperature range 1.3 K ≤ T ≤ 2 K. Therefore, the acceleration of the 4He atoms involved in the formation of a roton excitation is proportional to the time derivative of the relative velocity.w. In this case, the linear local relations between the variable values of the electric induction, electric field strength, and polarization vector should be taken into account. As a result, the variable displacement current induced in the bulk of HeII and the corresponding potential difference do not depend on the anomalously low polarizability of liquid helium. This allows the ratio of the amplitudes of the temperature and potential oscillations in the second sound wave, which is almost independent of T in the above temperature range, consistent with experimental data to be obtained. At the same time, the absence of an electric response during the excitation of first sound waves in the linear regime is related to an insufficient power of the sound oscillations. Based on the experimental data on the excitation of first and second sounds, we have obtained estimates for the phenomenological coefficient of proportionality between the polarization vector and acceleration and for the drag coefficient of helium atoms by rotons in the second sound wave. We also show that the presence of a steady heat flow in HeII with nonzero longitudinal velocity and temperature gradients due to finite viscosity and thermal conductivity of the normal component leads to a change in the phase velocities of the first and second sound waves and to an exponential growth of their amplitudes with time, which should cause the amplitudes of the electric signals at the first and second sound frequencies to grow. This instability is analogous to the growth of the amplitude of long gravity waves on a shallow-water surface that propagate in the direction of decreasing basin depth.     

Effects of Thermally Induced Roton-Like Excitation on the Superfluid Density of a Quasi-2D Dipolar Bose Condensed Gas

Using the Green's function approach, the density–density correlation function and the dielectric function in the random-phase approximation for a quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) dipolar Bose gas are derived. From the pole of the density correlation function, by considering thermally induced roton-like excitations, the excitation spectrum of the system is calculated. It is shown that the position and depth of the roton minimum of the excitation spectrum are tunable by changing the temperature. To show how the position of the roton minimum influences the phenomenon of superfluidity, the superfluid density of the system is obtained and it is shown that the interplay of the thermal rotonization, contact and dipole–dipole interaction (DDI) can affect the superfluid fraction of a quasi-2D Bose gas. It is found that contact, DDI interactions, and thermally induced rotons enhance the fluctuations and reduce the superfluid density. In the absence of DDI and thermally induced rotons, the usual T³ dependence of superfluid density in 2D is obtained and the correction T⁴ term arises from DDI. It is shown that if the roton minimum is close to zero, the thermally induced rotons change the linear temperature dependence of the superfluid fraction, leading to a transition to nontrivial supersolid phase.     

Josephson effect in coherent roton aggregates

A localized microwave electromagnetic field in liquid helium behaves as a laser of rotons: it produces a coherent roton aggregate. We show that the whispering gallery mode of the dielectric resonator excites multiple coherent aggregates simultaneously and predict a Josephson effect between them. The superfluid velocity around the resonator acts as a “voltage across the weak link” in superconducting Josephson junctions. Josephson frequency-velocity relation agrees with existing experimental data.     

Creation evidence of the second non-dispersive Zakharenko wave by helium atomic beams in superfluid helium-II at low temperatures

In this work, the experimental results of the creation of the second non-dispersive Zakharenko wave (C _ph = C _g ≠ 0) in the negative roton branch (the so-called second sound) of the bulk elementary excitations (BEEs) energy spectra are introduced. Several BEE signals detected by a bolometer situated in the isotopically pure liquid helium-II at low temperatures ∼100 mK are shown, which give evidence of negative roton creation in the liquid by helium atomic beams striking the liquid surface. The negative roton signals were clearly distinguished by the following ways: the negative roton signal created by helium atomic beams appeared earlier than the positive roton signal created by the beams, and presence of both positive and negative roton signals together. It is natural that the negative roton creation by the beams requires the ⁴He-atom energies ∼12 K, while the positive roton creation by the atomic beams requires energies ∼35 K. Therefore, successive increase in the heater power resulting in an increase in the ⁴He-atom energies gives solid evidence that the negative rotons are first created in the liquid by the helium atomic beams.      

Relaxation times for establishing steady state populations in optically thin helium plasmas

Population densities of HeI and HeII excited states are calculated from a collisional radiative model for non-LTE optically thin helium plasmas. Effect of direct ionisation-excitation of HeI to HeII states on the population density of HeII states is shown. Relaxation times for HeI states calculated from the CR model is reported forT _e from 3 to 18 eV andn _e from 10⁹ to 10¹⁶ cm⁻³. Part of a research project supported by the Department of Atomic Energy.     

Roton dipole moment

The roton excitation in the superfluid ⁴He does not possess a stationary dipole moment. However, a roton has an instantaneous dipole moment, such that at any given moment one can find it in the state either with positive or with negative dipole moment projection on its momentum direction. The instantaneous value of electric dipole moment of roton excitation is evaluated. The result is in reasonable agreement with recent experimental observation of the splitting of microwave resonance absorption line at roton frequency under external electric field.     

Mean-field theory for interacting rotons in superfluid helium

It is shown within the framework of mean-field theory that the gas of roton excitations in superfluid helium becomes unstable at a critical temperatureT _c if the roton-roton interaction is attractive. The instability is characterized by a singularity of the specific heat and signals the transition into the normal fluid state. The roton energy gap remains finite atT _c .     

Investigation of LiFeAs by means of “break-junction” technique

In our tunneling investigation using Andreev superconductor-normal metal-superconductor contacts on LiFeAs single crystals we observed two reproducible independent subharmonic gap structures at dynamic conductance characteristics. From these results, we can derive the energy of the large superconducting gap ??_L = (2.5?C3.4) meV and the small gap ??_S = (0.9?C1) meV at T = 4.2 K for the T _C ^local ?? (10.5?C14) K (the contact area critical temperature which deviation causes the variation of ??_L). The BCS-ratio is found to be 2??_L/k _B T _C = 4.6?C5.6, whereas 2??_S/k _B T _C ? 3.52 results from induced superconductivity in the bands with the small gap.     

Emission and absorption of phonons by rotons in superfluid helium

The roton spectrum of superfluid helium apparently has a threshold for phonon emission and absorption processes. We calculate the roton spectral function near the threshold for phonon emission in order to determine the effect of the phonon emission process on the roton line width. The spectral function develops a line shape anomaly due to a strong energy dependence of the roton self-energy. The line width is generally smaller than the sum of the phonon emission rate and the roton-roton collision rate. We also derive the ultrasonic attenuation due to the absorption of phonons by thermal rotons above the threshold.     

Observation of a maximum roton velocity in superfluid 4He

Using heat pulses, we detect atoms “evaporated” by ballistic rotons at the free liquid surface. A maximum roton velocity of 160 ± 10ms^?1 is observed.     

High-temperature ferromagnetism in Si1 ? x Mn x (x ≈ 0.5) nonstoichiometric alloys

It has been found that the Curie temperature (T _C ?? 300 K) in nonstoichiometric Si_{1 ? x} Mn _x alloys slightly enriched in Mn (x ?? 0.52?C0.55) in comparison to the stoichiometric manganese monosilicide MnSi becomes about an order of magnitude higher than that in MnSi (T _C ?? 30 K). Deviations from stoichiometry lead to a drastic decrease in the density of charge carries (holes), whereas their mobility at about 100 K becomes an order of magnitude higher than the value characteristic of MnSi. The high-temperature ferromagnetism is ascribed to the formation of defects with the localized magnetic moments and by their indirect exchange interaction mediated by the paramagnetic fluctuations of the hole spin density. The existence of defects with the localized magnetic moments in Si_{1 ? x} Mn _x alloys with x ?? 0.52?C0.55 is supported by the results of numerical calculations performed within the framework of the local-density-functional approximation. The increase in the hole mobility in the nonstoichiometric material is attributed to the decay of the Kondo (or spin-polaron) resonances presumably existing in MnSi.     

22Ne(a,n)25Mg reaction in CONe mantle of massive stars at high temperatures

The effectiveness of²²Ne (a, n)²⁵Mg reaction as a neutron source is examined at high temperatures 0.8?T ₉?3.0 (T ₉ is the temperature in units of 10⁹ K). An assembly consisting of¹²C,¹⁶O, and²²Ne is considered at the end of helium burning in some massive stars. Alpha particles necessary for this neutron producing reaction are assumed to be due to reactions involving¹²C and¹⁶O nuclei. Assuming²²Ne as the only neutron absorber, the number density of neutrons is calculated. The mantles outside the cores of massive stars are possibly the physical sites for these reactions.     

Damping of theJ=2 rotons in solid HD

The forces between HD molecules have been derived from those of H₂. The damping of theJ=2 roton by its decay intoJ=1 rotons and phonons has been estimated. The result agrees with experiments of Silvera and McTague.     

Dynamics of confined quantum fluids

We examine the static and dynamic properties of liquid ⁴He in confined geometries. Confinement is modeled by placing the liquid between two rigid, attractive walls with strengths corresponding to Geltech, Vycor, or glass. The liquid arranges itself in a series of layers, with increasing areal density it undergoes a sequence of layering transitions familiar from classical fluids. We identify “bulk” excitations that propagate throughout the film, and “layer” excitations that propagate only close to the substrate. Both have the typical phonon-roton dispersion relation, but the energy of the layer-roton minimum depends sensitively on the substrate strength, thus providing a mechanism for a direct measurement of this quantity. Bulk-like roton excitations are largely independent of the interaction between the matrix and the helium atoms. While the bulk-like rotons are very similar to their true bulk counterparts, the layer modes are not in close relation to two-dimensional rotons and should be regarded as a completely independent kind of excitation.     

Molecular transient effects in K-band spectroscopy

The time dependence of microwave transient absorption and emission was measured forJ=2←1 of the OCS molecule under on- and off-resonant conditions by the technique of Stark switching. The results are analyzed with the theory of a coherent electromagnetic wave interacting with a two-level quantum system through the electric dipole interaction to obtain the pressure dependence of the relaxation timesT ₂ and in consequence the pressure broadening parameterC _w=26.7±0.9 (μs·mTorr)^?1 has been obtained.     

Local atomic and magnetic structures of nanocrystalline Fe75Cr10B15 alloy

The crystal, local atomic and magnetic structures of Fe₇₅Cr₁₀B₁₅ alloys annealed at 440?C473°C for 5 min have been studied using X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy. At the annealing temperature T _a = 440°C, nanocrystals of the ??-Fe phase (??1%) precipitate in the amorphous matrix of the alloy. The complete crystallization of the amorphous alloy occurs at T _a = 473°C with the formation of ??-Fe nanocrystals 26 ± 2 nm in size and nanocrystals of tetragonal boride t-Fe₃B 47 ± 2 nm in size. It has been found that chromium atoms are located in nanocrystals of the ??-Fe and y-Fe₃B types. The distribution functions of hyperfine fields in the nanocrystalline Fe₇₅Cr₁₀B₁₅ alloy reconstructed from the M?ssbauer spectra (at T _a = 473°C) show that there are three allowed states of iron atoms in the ??-Fe phase and three equally probable crystallographic nonequivalent states of iron in the t-(Fe,Cr)₃B phase. The chromium concentration x in the ??-Fe(Cr) phase is found to be ??10 at %. The substitution of chromium atoms for iron atoms in t-Fe₃B substantially decreases local magnetic moments of the iron atoms.     

Effect of low-temperature treatment and subsequent high-temperature annealing on the critical current density of YBa2Cu3O y

The field dependences of the critical current density of the HTSC compound YBa₂Cu₃O _y recovered at T = 920?C950°C after the low-temperature treatment have been investigated. At T = 200°C, structural defects are formed in a wet environment, which are capable of initiating pinning of magnetic vortices. A short-term (1?C3 h) recovery annealing performed at T = 930?C950°C leaves in the samples a fairly large amount of structural defects formed during the low-temperature treatment, which results in a substantial increase in the critical current density in magnetic fields of ??2 T as compared to the ceramics not subjected to double annealing. A longer high-temperature treatment removes the structural defects formed and brings the electrophysical properties of YBa₂Cu₃O _y to the level characteristic of the ceramics produced by standard technology.     

Imperfection of the clustered perovskite structure, phase transitions, and magnetoresistive properties of ceramic La0.6Sr0.2Mn1.2 ? x Ni x O3 ± δ (x = 0–0.3)

Ceramic samples of lanthanum strontium manganite perovskites La_0.6Sr_0.2Mn_{1.2 ? x} Ni _x O_{3 ± ??} (0 ?? x ?? 0.3) have been investigated using the X-ray diffraction, magnetic (??_ac), ⁵⁵Mn NMR, resistive, and magnetoresistive methods. The specific features of the influence of the composition on the structure and properties of nonstoichiometric manganite perovskites have been established. It has been found that the rhombohedrally (R $\bar 3$ c) distorted perovskite structure contains cation and anion vacancies, as well as nanostructured clusters with Mn²⁺ ions in the A-positions. The substitution of Ni³⁺ ions (r = 0.74 ?) for Mn³⁺ ions (r = 0.785 ?) leads to a decrease in the lattice parameter a, the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition temperature T _C, and the metal-semiconductor phase transition temperature T _ms due to the disturbance of the superexchange interactions between heterovalent manganese ions Mn³⁺ and Mn⁴⁺. The observed anomalous magnetic hysteresis at 77 K has been explained by the antiferromagnetic effect of the unidirectional exchange anisotropy of the ferromagnetic matrix structure on the magnetic moments of the superstoichiometric manganese Mn²⁺ ions located in nanostructured planar clusters. An analysis of the asymmetrically broadened ⁵⁵Mn NMR spectra of the compounds has revealed a high-frequency electronic superexchange of the ions Mn³⁺ ? O^2? ? Mn⁴⁺; a local heterogeneity of their surrounding by other ions, vacancies, and clusters; and a partial localization of Mn⁴⁺ ions. The local hyperfine interaction fields on ⁵⁵Mn nuclei have been determined. The concentration dependences of the activation energy and charge hopping frequency have confirmed that the Ni ions decrease the electrical conductivity due to the weakening of the electronic superexchange Mn³⁺ ? O^2? ? Mn⁴⁺. Two types of magnetoresistive effects have been found: one effect, which is observed near the phase transition temperatures T _C and T _ms, is caused by scattering at intracrystalline nanostructured heterogeneities, and the other effect, which is observed in the low-temperature range, is induced by tunneling through intercrystalline mesostructured boundaries. The phase diagram has demonstrated that there is a strong correlation between magnetic and electrical properties in rare-earth manganites.     

The microwave spectrum and structure of chloryl fluoride

The microwave spectra of three isotopic species of chloryl fluoride, FClO₂, in its ground vibrational state, have been measured in the frequency region 8–37 GHz. The spectra have yielded values for the rotational constants, centrifugal distortion constants, and chlorine nuclear quadrupole coupling constants, as well as the molecular dipole moment, 1.722 ± 0.03 D. The molecule has been shown to have C_s symmetry, and a pyramidal configuration, with the chlorine atom at the apex of the pyramid. The following internuclear parameters were obtained:r(Cl?F)1.697±0.003 A r(Cl?F)=1.418±0.002AThe structural parameters, quadrupole coupling constants, dipole moment and force field are explained in terms of a bonding scheme in which a fluorine 2p atomic orbital overlaps with the highest occupied orbital of ClO₂; there is considerable evidence for withdrawal of electron density from this singly occupied antibonding orbital of ClO₂ toward the fluorine atom.     

Determination of Quality Factor for Highly Overcoupled EPR Resonators

We reported determination of the loaded quality factor (Q) of highly overcoupled (dielectric, loop-gap, and cavity) resonators used in time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance. We introduced a microwave absorber into resonators and achieved critical-coupling. Due to the deep “Q-dip” of critical-coupling, we can easily determine the loaded Q as low as 10. The loaded Q of resonators with and without the microwave absorber was examined under various overcoupling conditions. We found that the radiation Q (Q _r) can be calculated from the loaded Q of the resonator that contains the microwave absorber. We proposed a simple model that represents the loaded Q of the overcoupled resonator in terms of two parameters, Q ₀ and Q _r. Q ₀ is the effective unloaded Q of the resonator determined for the critically coupled resonator without the microwave absorber and is independent of a degree of coupling. The model can be applied to overcoupling in which the coupling parameter (Q ₀/Q _r) is in the range of 1 to ca. 20.