Skip to main content

Interpreting torsional oscillator measurements: Effect of shear modulus and supersolidity

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

J.D. Reppy
X. Mi
A. Justin
E.J. Mueller

Abstract

The torsional oscillator is the chief instrument for investigating supersolidity in solid 4He. These oscillators can be sensitive to the elastic properties of the solid helium, which show anomalies over the same range of temperature in which the supersolid phenomenon appears. In this report we present a detailed study of the influence of the elastic properties of the solid on the periods of torsional oscillators for the various designs that have been commonly employed in supersolid measurements. We show how to design an oscillator which measures supersolidity, and how to design one which predominantly measures elasticity. We describe the use of multiple frequency TOs for the separation of the elastic and supersolid phenomena. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012.

Date Published

Journal

Journal of Low Temperature Physics

Volume

168

Issue

3-4

Number of Pages

175-193,

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84865474490&doi=10.1007%2fs10909-012-0596-5&partnerID=40&md5=c4cf226c58244f316768f2f02b4626ba

DOI

10.1007/s10909-012-0596-5

Funding Source

0965698
DMR-060586
PHY-0758104
0520404
0758104
DMR-0520404

Download citation