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The Limit of Mechanical Stability in Quantum Crystals: A Diffusion Monte Carlo Study of Solid \(^{4}\)He

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Abstract

We present a first-principles study of the energy and elastic properties of solid helium at pressures below the range in which it is energetically stable. We find that the limit of mechanical stability in hcp \(^{4}\)He is \(P_{s} = -33.8(1)\) bar, which lies significantly below the spinodal pressure found in the liquid phase (i.e., \(-9.6\) bar). Furthermore, we show that the pressure variation of the transverse and longitudinal sound velocities close to \(P_{s}\) does not follow a power law of the form \(\propto \left( P - P_{s} \right) ^{\gamma }\), in contrast to what is observed in the fluid.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by MICINN-Spain [Grants Nos. MAT2010-18113, CSD2007-00041, FIS2011-25275, and CSIC JAE-DOC program (C.C.)], and Generalitat de Catalunya [Grant No. 2009SGR-1003].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Claudio Cazorla

  2. Departament de Física i Enginyeria Nuclear, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Campus Nord B4-B5, Barcelona, 08034, Spain

    Jordi Boronat

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  1. Claudio Cazorla
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  2. Jordi Boronat
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Correspondence to Claudio Cazorla.

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Cazorla, C., Boronat, J. The Limit of Mechanical Stability in Quantum Crystals: A Diffusion Monte Carlo Study of Solid \(^{4}\)He. J Low Temp Phys 180, 20–28 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-014-1238-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-014-1238-x

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