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arXiv · 0805.3713

Local stress and superfluid properties of solid Helium-4

L. Pollet·M. Boninsegni·A. B. Kuklov·N. V. Prokofev·B. V. Svistunov·M. Troyer
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Abstract

More than half a century ago Penrose asked: are the superfluid and solid state of matter mutually exclusive or do there exist "supersolid" materials where the atoms form a regular lattice and simultaneously flow without friction? Recent experiments provide evidence that supersolid behavior indeed exists in Helium-4 -- the most quantum material known in Nature. In this paper we show that large local strain in the vicinity of crystalline defects is the origin of supersolidity in Helium-4. Although ideal crystals of Helium-4 are not supersolid, the gap for vacancy creation closes when applying a moderate stress. While a homogeneous system simply becomes unstable at this point, the stressed core of crystalline defects (dislocations and grain boundaries) undergoes a radical transformation and can become superfluid.

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L. Pollet, M. Boninsegni, A. B. Kuklov, N. V. Prokofev, B. V. Svistunov, M. Troyer. 2008-05-23. Local stress and superfluid properties of solid Helium-4. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.101.097202

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