Observation of stages of homogeneous nucleation of liquid droplets in solid isotopic helium mixtures

Abstract

We have made simultaneous pressure and NMR measurements during the evolution of phase separation in solid helium isotopic mixtures. The experiments reported were performed at initial pressures and concentrations where the phase-separated 3He inclusions formed as liquid droplets. Our observations indicate clearly all three stages of the homogeneous nucleation process: creation of nucleation sites; growth of the new-phase component at these nucleation sites; and finally dissolution of sub-critical droplets with the consequent further growth of the super-critical droplets, otherwise known as 'Ostwald Ripening'. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.