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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