CMT164

Half-Quantum Vortices in Nematic and Chiral Phases of ³He

• Author(s): Robert C. Regan, Joshua J. Wiman and J. A. Sauls
• Address: Center for Applied Physics & Superconducting Technologies, Department of Physics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
• Published: July 30, 2021
• Journal: Physical Review B 104, 024513 (2021) [DOI]
• Abstract: We report theoretical results for the stability of half-quantum vortices (HQVs) in the superfluid phases of \He\ confined in highly anisotropic Nafen aerogel. Superfluidity of ³He confined in Nafen is the realization of a ``nematic superfluid'' with Cooper pairs condensed into a single p-wave orbital aligned along the anisotropy axis of the Nafen aerogel. In addition to the nematic phase, we predict a second ``chiral'' phase that onsets at a lower transition temperature. This chiral phase spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry and is a topological superfluid. Both superfluid phases are equal-spin pairing condensates that host arrays of HQVs as equilibrium states of rotating superfluid ³He. We present results for the structure of HQVs, including magnetic and topological signatures of HQVs in both the nematic and chiral phases of ³He-Nafen.

• Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures

• Eprint: [arXiv]

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