Thermodynamics of adiabatic melting of solid $^4 \mathrm{He}$ in liquid $^3 \mathrm{He}$

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the thermodynamics of adiabatic melting of solid helium-4 in liquid helium-3, exploring how initial mixture composition affects the lowest achievable temperatures and the cooling power of the process.

Contribution

It provides a detailed thermodynamic framework and formulas to predict the lowest temperatures and cooling efficiency in helium-3/helium-4 adiabatic melting experiments, including realistic experimental considerations.

Findings

Initial mixture composition influences final temperature significantly.

Formulas for heat capacity and entropy at very low temperatures are developed.

Estimated lowest temperatures and cooling power are compared with experimental data.

Abstract

In the cooling concept by adiabatic melting, solid $^{4}$He is converted to liquid and mixed with $^{3}$He to produce cooling power directly in the liquid phase. This method overcomes the thermal boundary resistance that conventionally limits the lowest available temperatures in the helium fluids, and hence makes it possible to reach for the temperatures significantly below 100 $\mu$K. In this paper we focus on the thermodynamics of the melting process, and examine the factors affecting the lowest temperatures achievable. We show that the amount of $^{3}$He-$^{4}$He mixture in the initial state, before the melting, can substantially lift the final temperature, as its normal Fermi fluid entropy will remain relatively large compared to the entropy of superfluid $^{3}$He. We present the collection of formulas and parameters in order to work out the thermodynamics of the process at very low temperatures, study the heat capacity and entropy of the system with different liquid $^{3}$He, mixture, and solid $^{4}$He contents, and use them to estimate the lowest temperatures achievable by the melting process, as well as compare our calculations to the experimental saturated $^{3}$He-$^{4}$He mixture crystallization pressure data. Realistic expectations in the execution of the actual experiment are considered. Further, we study the cooling power of the process, and find the coefficient connecting the melting rate of solid $^{4}$He to the dilution rate of $^{3}He$.