Compressibility effect on the quantum two-dimensional nucleation at low temperatures

Abstract

We study the quantum two-dimensional nucleation of a stable solid phase during the first-order transition at temperatures down to absolute zero. The key role of the finite compressibility of a metastable liquid phase in calculating the quantum nucleation rate is emphasized. In particular, the nucleation rate proves to be dependent on temperature in the quantum tunneling regime. On the whole, the nucleation kinetics corresponds to dissipative tunnelung through a potential barrier. Energy dissipation is due to emitting sound waves during the growth of a solid nucleus. The features inherent to the quantum 2D growth of steps on the atomically smooth facets of a helium crystal are discussed as well.