The kinetics of isotopic phase separation of3Hendash;4Hesolid mixtures for various molar volumes has been studied by precision pressure measurements at a constant volume. It is found that the attainment of equilibrium between coexisting phases formed as a result of stratification is described correctly by an exponential dependence for various modes of crystal cooling and heating. The characteristic phase separation time decreases with temperature, thus confirming the athermal quantum nature of the growth of a new phase during the phase transition. The phase separation time is found to increase considerably with crystal pressure. It is shown that the prevailing theory can provide only a qualitative description of the established regularities. A quantitative description of experimentally observed decay times requires an analysis of diffusion processes in a gas of impurity excitations in the presence of a concentration gradient. copy;1998 American Institute of Physics.
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