Charge-Induced Deformation of the 4He Solid-Superfluid Interface

The interface between solid and superfluid 4He has revealed unusual dynamic properties. Characteristic of this quantum system are the very high thermal conductivity of the superfluid phase, and an extremely small heat of fusion below temperatures of about 1 K. As a result, equilibrium at the solid-superfluid 4He interface is established quite rapidly, which gives rise, e.g., to melting — crystallization waves [1,2] — similar in appearance to surface waves on a free liquid surface — and to anomalous transmission of sound [3].