Finite size effects in adsorption of helium mixtures by alkali substrates

TL;DR

This study explores how finite size effects influence the behavior and structure of helium-3 and helium-4 mixtures on alkali surfaces at zero temperature, using density functional theory.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the energetics, structure, and size-dependent properties of helium mixtures on alkali substrates at the nanoscale.

Findings

Size affects the single particle spectrum of 3He atoms.

Helium distributions' shapes depend on droplet size.

Energetics vary with the number of 3He atoms.

Abstract

We investigate the behavior of mixed 3He-4He droplets on alkali surfaces at zero temperature, within the frame of Finite Range Density Functional theory. The properties of one single 3He atom on 4He_N4 droplets on different alkali surfaces are addressed, and the energetics and structure of 4He_N4+3He_N3 systems on Cs surfaces, for nanoscopic 4He drops, are analyzed through the solutions of the mean field equations for varying number N3 of 3He atoms. We discuss the size effects on the single particle spectrum of 3He atoms and on the shapes of both helium distributions.