2023

Tian, Y.; Lotnyk, D.; Eyal, A.; Zhang, K.; Zhelev, N.; Abhilash, T. S.; Chavez, A.; Smith, E. N.; Hindmarsh, M.; Saunders, J.; Mueller, E.; Parpia, J. M.

Because of the extreme purity, lack of disorder, and complex order parameter, the first-order superfluid ³He A–B transition is the leading model system for first order transitions in the early universe. Here we report on the path dependence of the supercooling of the A phase over a wide range of pressures below 29.3 bar at nearly zero magnetic field. The A phase can be cooled significantly below the thermodynamic A–B transition temperature. While the extent of supercooling is highly reproducible, it depends strongly upon the cooling trajectory: The metastability of the A phase is enhanced by transiting through regions where the A phase is more stable. We provide evidence that some of the additional supercooling is due to the elimination of B phase nucleation precursors formed upon passage through the superfluid transition. A greater understanding of the physics is essential before ³He can be exploited to model transitions in the early universe.