Exact solution of Ginzburg's $\Psi$-theory for the Casimir force in $^4$He superfluid films

Abstract

We present an analytical solution of the Ginzburg's $\Psi$-theory for the behavior of the Casimir force in a film of $^4$He in equilibrium with its vapor near the superfluid transition point, and we revisit the corresponding experiments in light of our findings. We find reasonably good agreement between the $\Psi$-theory predictions and the experimental data. Our calculated force is attractive, and the largest absolute value of the scaling function is $1.848$, while experiment yields $1.30$. The position of the extremum is predicted to be at $x=(L/\xi_0)(T/T_\lambda-1)^{1/\nu}=\pi$, while experiment is consistent with $x=3.8$. Here $L$ is the thickness of the film, $T_\lambda$ is the bulk critical temperature and $\xi_0$ is the correlation length amplitude of the system for $T>T_\lambda$.