Deformed aerogels in the superfluid 3He

Abstract

Deformed aerogels induce a global anisotropy in the superfluid 3He and orient the orbital part of its order parameter. Here a phenomenological theory of the orientational effect of elastic deformations of aerogels on the superfluid phases of 3He in the spirit of conventional theory of elasticity is formulated. Phenomenological coefficients, entering basic relations, depend on properties of given aerogel in the non-deformed state. Examples of originally isotropic silica aerogel and axially symmetric "nematically ordered" aerogel are considered. Values of phenomenological coefficients are estimated with the aid of a simple microscopic model. An example of a nonuniform deformation of "nematically ordered" aerogel is discussed.