Abstract
Alkali atoms have been shown previously to have only unstable binding states inside liquid4He. We calculate the equilibrium configurations and binding energies of single alkali atoms near the liquid-vapor interface of4He and3He. A simple interface model is used to predict the surface deformation due to the presence of the atoms. A more realistic density functional model yields somewhat higher energies in the case of4He. For all alkali atoms, we find the surface binding energies to be around 10 to 20 K. A similar analysis with atom-H2 interactions finds that alkali atoms tend to submerge into liquid H2, with the exception of Li.
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Ancilotto, F., Cheng, E., Cole, M.W. et al. The binding of alkali atoms to the surfaces of liquid helium and hydrogen. Z. Physik B - Condensed Matter 98, 323–329 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01338398
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01338398