Evidence for a Spatially Modulated Superfluid Phase of 
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 under Confinement

Levitin, L. V.; Yager, B.; Sumner, Laura; Cowan, Brian; Casey, A.; Saunders, J.; Zhelev, Nikolay; Bennett, Robert; Parpia, J. M.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.122.085301

Cited by 53 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The domain walls with the sign change of a single gap component in 3 He-B were suggested to interpret the experimental observations in bulk samples 53,54 (q = 1) and in the slab geometry. 55 Such walls, however, differ from those reported here as they are not bounded by strings but rather terminate at container walls. In the slab geometry such walls are additionally topologically protected by a Z 2 symmetry due to pinning of thel vector by the slab.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 70%

Half-quantum vortices and walls bounded by strings in the polar-distorted phases of topological superfluid 3He

et al. 2019

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Symmetries of the physical world have guided formulation of fundamental laws, including relativistic quantum field theory and understanding of possible states of matter. Topological defects (TDs) often control the universal behavior of macroscopic quantum systems, while topology and broken symmetries determine allowed TDs. Taking advantage of the symmetry-breaking patterns in the phase diagram of nanoconfined superfluid 3He, we show that half-quantum vortices (HQVs)—linear topological defects carrying half quantum of circulation—survive transitions from the polar phase to other superfluid phases with polar distortion. In the polar-distorted A phase, HQV cores in 2D systems should harbor non-Abelian Majorana modes. In the polar-distorted B phase, HQVs form composite defects—walls bounded by strings hypothesized decades ago in cosmology. Our experiments establish the superfluid phases of 3He in nanostructured confinement as a promising topological media for further investigations ranging from topological quantum computing to cosmology and grand unification scenarios.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 70%

Half-quantum vortices and walls bounded by strings in the polar-distorted phases of topological superfluid 3He

et al. 2019

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“…(Two superfluid phases are found in bulk 3 He in zero magnetic field: the anisotropic A phase occupies the high pressure P ≥ 21.22 bar region near T c , the isotropic B-phase occupies the remainder of P, T space 64 ). Confinement of superfluid 3 He in the channel of height d = 1.1 μm modifies this phase diagram 8,69 and stabilizes the A phase over a significant temperature range at low pressures (to 0.7 T c (0 bar), 0.77 T c (0.62 bar), and 0.93 T c (22 bar)).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal transport of helium-3 in a strongly confining channel

et al. 2020

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The investigation of transport properties in normal liquid helium-3 and its topological superfluid phases provides insights into related phenomena in electron fluids, topological materials, and putative topological superconductors. It relies on the measurement of mass, heat, and spin currents, due to system neutrality. Of particular interest is transport in strongly confining channels of height approaching the superfluid coherence length, to enhance the relative contribution of surface excitations, and suppress hydrodynamic counterflow. Here we report on the thermal conduction of helium-3 in a 1.1 μm high channel. In the normal state we observe a diffusive thermal conductivity that is approximately temperature independent, consistent with interference of bulk and boundary scattering. In the superfluid, the thermal conductivity is only weakly temperature dependent, requiring detailed theoretical analysis. An anomalous thermal response is detected in the superfluid which we propose arises from the emission of a flux of surface excitations from the channel.

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“…This strategy is particularly suitable for the study of topological superfluid 3 He in the quasi-2D limit, k −1 F ≪ D < 10 0 . So far cavities of height D in the range 1000-100 nm have been studied [124][125][126][127][128]. An advantage is that for fixed cavity height the effective confinement 0 ∕D is tuneable by pressure, since…”

Section: Superfluid 3 He Filmsmentioning

confidence: 99%