Splitting of the superfluid transition in $^3$He by nematic aerogels

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nematic aerogels influence the superfluid transition of liquid helium-3, revealing conditions that favor the stabilization of the polar phase right at the transition temperature.

Contribution

It provides a symmetry-based analysis showing that certain nematic aerogels can stabilize the polar phase of superfluid helium-3 at the transition.

Findings

Polar distorted ABM phase can be stable from the transition temperature.

Symmetry arguments identify the most favorable aerogel for polar phase stabilization.

Abstract

Role of inhomogeneous perturbations of nematic aerogel on the form of the order parameter emerging at the transition of liquid $^3$He in the superfluid state is considered. It is shown that a region of stability of the polar distorted ABM phase can begin right from the transition temperature. The symmetry argument is given, which selects the most favorable aerogel for stabilization of pure polar phase.