Growth and dissolution kinetics of He3 inclusions in phase-separated He3–4He solid mixtures

• Published in: Low temperature physics (Woodbury, N.Y.) N.Y.), 1999-08, Vol.25 (8), p.592-606
• Main Authors: Gan’shin, A. N., Grigor’ev, V. N., Maı̆danov, V. A., Omelaenko, N. F., Penzev, A. A., Rudavskiı̆, E. Ya, Rybalko, A. S., Tokar, Yu. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1063-777X; 1090-6517
• DOI: 10.1063/1.593788

Comprehensive experimental results on growth, dissolution, and melting kinetics of solid inclusions of He3 formed as a result of phase separation of solid mixtures of He3 in He4 are described. A new method developed for obtaining high- quality crystals by cycling the temperature of a solid mixture within the separation region makes it possible to obtain reproducible values of time constants for growth and dissolution of inclusions. Precise measurements of pressure in the crystal at constant volume are used for obtaining data on effective mass diffusion of He3 atoms in the crystal. It is shown that quantum diffusion is strongly suppressed at low temperatures due to elastic fields induced near the boundaries of inclusions. Abnormally rapid transport of matter of the threshold type is observed during dissolution of inclusions. The observed effects can be explained qualitatively in the proposed model of multistage dissolution of He3 inclusions. The data on the variation of pressure as a result of melting and crystallization of He3 inclusions are also obtained. It is proposed that a part of He3 remains in the liquid phase after crystallization.