Published April 2008 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

Neutron reflection from a liquid helium surface

Creators

  • 1. ISIS, STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot (United Kingdom)
  • 2. Physics Department Lancaster University, Lancaster (United Kingdom)

Description

The reflection of neutrons from a helium surface is observed for the first time. The 4He surface is smoother in the superfluid state at 1.54 K than in the case of the normal liquid at 2.3 K. In the superfluid state we also observe a surface layer ∼ 200 A thick which has a subtly different neutron scattering cross section, which may be explained by an enhanced Bose-Einstein condensate fraction close to the helium surface. The application of neutron reflectometry described in this paper creates new and exciting opportunities for the surface and interfacial study of quantum fluids

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Fizika Nizkikh Temperatur
Journal Volume
34
Journal Issue
1/5
Journal Page Range
p. 400-403
ISSN
0132-6414

INIS

Country of Publication
Ukraine
Country of Input or Organization
Ukraine
INIS RN
39110158
Subject category
S75: CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY;
Descriptors DEI
BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION; HELIUM 4; LAYERS; LIQUIDS; MEASURING METHODS; NEUTRON BEAMS; REFLECTIVITY; SCATTERING; SUPERFLUIDITY; SURFACE PROPERTIES; SURFACES; TEMPERATURE RANGE 0000-0013 K; THICKNESS
Descriptors DEC
BEAMS; DIMENSIONS; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FLUIDS; HELIUM ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; LIGHT NUCLEI; NUCLEI; NUCLEON BEAMS; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PARTICLE BEAMS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; STABLE ISOTOPES; SURFACE PROPERTIES; TEMPERATURE RANGE