Metastable solid He-4 and the possible role of point defects

Author(s)

Pedroso, V. Z. ^{[1, 2]} ; Zampronio, V ^{[1, 3]} ; Vitiello, S. A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Fis Gleb Wataghin, UNICAMP, BR-13083859 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Tecnol Fed Parana, Dept Fis, Campus Ponta, BR-84016210 Ponta Grossa, Parana - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Inst Fis, UFRGS, BR-91501970 Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER; v. 33, n. 7 FEB 17 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The metastable phase of solid He-4 and the possible role of point defects in its destabilization are investigated by the introduction of a trial function of the shadow class with an explicit symmetrical kernel. This is a trial function that ensures the possible exchange of atoms and the delocalization of atoms and defects in a very effective manner. We show that the formation energy for vacancies is equal to zero at a pressure P-c = 20 +/- 2 atm, which is in excellent agreement with the experimental observation. The pressure at which a self-interstitial also has a formation energy equal to zero, is in agreement with the density where vacancies have the same property. Formation energies of a He-3 interstitial or a substitutional impurity were estimated. Other properties of interest for systems made from He-4 atoms are estimated and compared with results from the literature whenever available. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/17612-7 - Dynamics of many-body systems IV
• Grantee: Arnaldo Gammal
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants