A zero point energy explanation of a peak in liquid helium's dynamic structure factor
Abstract
Recent high resolution experiments show a strong peak at Q = 1.9 Ang-1 in liquid helium's dynamic structure factor that exhibits a singular dependence on temperature. The theoretical situation is briefly reviewed, and the comment is made that the simplest possible explanation is that at the lambda point a macroscopic number of molecules actually begin having a wavenumber k = Q ≈ 1.9 Ang-1. It is pointed out that the intermolecular separation at the lambda point is the right one, considering the size of helium molecules, to almost form around each molecule a three-dimensional box made of other molecules. A trapped molecule has, according to the uncertainty principle, k ≈ 1.9 Ang-1. An experiment with liquid helium is suggested that can help clarify the nature of the peak.
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