Phase separation study near the tricritical point in He-3-He-4 mixtures

摘要

We are studying phase separation in He-3-He-4 mixtures using inter-digital capacitor (IDC) sensors located on the top of our cell. The IDCs measure the phase separation by probing the local concentration near each sensor. The IDCs were developed as part of our effort to eventually perform similar measurements on the International Space Station, in the absence of the stabilizing influence of gravity. The IDCs appear to be well suited for making measurements of the phase separation on both sides of the tricritical point, including on the He-3 rich side of the phase diagram where they observe the minority He-4 rich phase forming a macroscopic thick film at phase separation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. [References: 7]