Quantum cavitation in liquid helium: dissipation effects

Abstract

We have investigated the quantum-to-thermal cavitation crossover temperature T ∗ in liquid helium using a functional–integral method in conjunction with a density functional description of the liquid. Dissipation is taken into account introducing a semiphenomenological Rayleigh's dissipation function. We have found that a rather small dissipation decreases T ∗ sizeably, which is a possible explanation why recent experiments on 3He have not yet found clear evidence of quantum cavitation at temperatures below the T ∗ predicted by calculations which neglect it.