Electron Bubbles in Liquid Helium
Quantum Physics
2007-05-23 v1
Abstract
When an electron (or positronium atom) is injected into liquid helium with nearly zero energy, a bubble quickly forms around it. This phenomenon (which also occurs in liquid hydrogen, liquid neon and possibly in solid helium) lowers the mobility of the electron to a value similar to that for a positive ion. We estimate the radius of the bubble at zero pressure and temperature based on the zero point energy of the electron. If the liquid is held in a state of negative pressure, the bubble will expand beyond the radius at zero pressure. We also estimate the negative pressure such that a bubble once formed will grow without limit.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0312037,
title = {Electron Bubbles in Liquid Helium},
author = {Kirk T. McDonald},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0312037},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
4 pages, 1 figure