Bose-Einstein Condensation, the Lambda Transition, and Superfluidity for Interacting Bosons
Abstract
Bose-Einstein condensation and the λ-transition are described in molecular detail for bosons interacting with a pair potential. New phenomena are identified that are absent in the usual ideal gas treatment. Monte Carlo simulations of Lennard-Jones helium-4 neglecting ground momentum state bosons give a diverging heat capacity approaching the transition. Pure permutation loops give continuous growth in the occupancy of the ground momentum state. Mixed ground and excited momentum state permutation loops give a discontinuous transition to the condensed phase. The consequent latent heat for the λ-transition is 3\% of the total energy. The predicted critical velocity for superfluid flow is within a factor of three of the measured values over three orders of magnitude in pore diameter.