title: Crystalline order in superfluid (3)He films.
abstract: We predict an inhomogeneous phase of superfluid (3)He films in which translational symmetry is spontaneously broken in the plane of the film. This phase is energetically favored over a range of film thicknesses, D(c2)(T) < D < D(c1)(T), separating distinct homogeneous superfluid phases. The instability at the critical film thickness, D(c2) approximately 9 xi (T), is a single-mode instability generating striped phase order in the film. Numerical calculations of the order parameter and free energy indicate a second-order instability to a periodic lattice of degenerate B-like phases separated by domain walls at D(c1) approximately 13 xi (T).
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Vorontsov
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sauls