Transition from a 2D Degenerate Bose Liquid to 3D Superfluid in 4He Films Formed in Nanopores

Abstract

The phase transition mechanism in a new dimensional condition was studied for the 4He film formed in 3D nanopore where pores of 2.7 nm diameter are connected in 3D with a period of 5.5 nm. In the case of a very low superfluid onset temperature TSF at a low coverage, a sharp and large peak of the specific heat indicates the typical 3D transition of the 4He film. This is understood by comparing the relative lengths among the 3D and 2D mean atomic distances and the 3D connection length of the film. When the coverage is increased, these length relations are changed to a new dimensional condition. We observed a sharp peak at TSF of the 3D transition up to 1.1 K. For a thick film, we also observed a hump at TB, which is higher than TSF. The hump is attributed to a phase change to a 2D degenerate state with a finite amplitude but without a long range order in the phase of superfluid order parameters. This indicates a new type of transition at TSF from the 2D degenerate state to the 3D superfluid, which is essent...