Nonsuperfluid origin of the nonclassical rotational inertia in a bulk sample of solid 4He.
The torsional oscillator experiments described here examine the effect of disorder on the nonclassical rotational inertia (NCRI) of a solid 4He sample. The NCRI increases with increasing disorder, but the period changes responsible for this increase occur primarily at higher temperatures. Contrary to expectations based on a supersolid scenario, the oscillator period remains relatively unaffected at the lowest temperatures. This result points to a nonsuperfluid origin for the NCRI.
Reppy
John D
JD
Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2501, USA. jdr13@cornell.edu