Ions and atoms in superfluid helium (4He)

New experimental results for mobilities in superfluid helium of the alkali earth ions Be⁺, Mg⁺, Ca⁺, Sr⁺ and Ba⁺ in the temperature region from 1.27 up to 1.66 K are reported. Surprisingly, the temperature dependence of the Be⁺ ion mobility, measured here for the first time, is more similar to that of the He⁺ ion than to the heavier alkali earth ions. This behavior may suggest a snowball like structure for the defect around Be⁺ in contrast to the bubble like defects around the heavier alkali earth ions.