Surface instability and isotopic impurities in quantum solids

Abstract

In this paper we employ a self-consistent harmonic approximation to investigate surface melting and local melting close to quantum impurities in quantum solids. We show that surface melting can occur at temperatures much lower than the critical temperature $T_c$ of the solid phase instability in the bulk. Similar effects are driven by the presence of an isotope substitution. In this latter case, we show that stronger local lattice fluctuations, induced by a lighter isotope atom, can induce local melting of the host bulk phase. Experimental consequences and the possible relevance in solid helium are discussed.