Backflow and dissipation during the quantum decay of a metastable Fermi liquid

TL;DR

This paper investigates the particle current, backflow, and dissipation phenomena during the quantum decay of a metastable Fermi liquid, revealing how quasiparticle scattering influences the dynamics of phase transition droplets.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of backflow and dissipation effects in a metastable Fermi liquid during phase transition decay, including calculations of hydrodynamic mass flow and friction forces.

Findings

Backflow is induced by density response during droplet fluctuations.

Dissipative backflow results from quasiparticle scattering at the boundary.

Hydrodynamic mass flow and friction force are quantitatively characterized.

Abstract

The particle current in a metastable Fermi liquid against a first-order phase transition is calculated at zero temperature. During fluctuations of a droplet of the stable phase, in accordance with the conservation law, not only does an unperturbed current arise from the continuity at the boundary, but a backflow is induced by the density response. Quasiparticles carrying these currents are scattered by the boundary, yielding a dissipative backflow around the droplet. An energy of the hydrodynamic mass flow of the liquid and a friction force exerted on the droplet by the quasiparticles have been obtained in terms of a potential of their interaction with the droplet.