Density functional theory of freezing for quantum systems. II. Application to helium

Abstract

The path integral density functional theory of quantum freezing is used to study the freezing of 4He and 3He. The crystal-liquid phase diagram is examined over the temperature range 8 to 204.4 K. The isotopic shift in the liquid-crystal coexistence line is also studied, and we conclude that mass effects, rather than quantum statistics, are important in the freezing transition at these temperatures. © 1990 American Institute of Physics.