AIkali atoms have been shown previously to have only unstable binding states inside liquid He-4. We calculate the equilibrium configurations and binding energies of single alkali atoms near the liquid-vapor interface of He-4 and He-3. A simple interface model is used to predict the surface deformation due to the presence of the atoms. A more realistic density functional model yields somewhat higher energies in the case of He-4. For all alkali atoms, we find the surface binding energies to be around 10 to 20 K. A similar analysis with atom-H-2 interactions finds that alkali atoms tend to submerge into liquid H-2, with the exception of Li.

The binding of alkali atoms to the surfaces of liquid helium and hydrogen

ANCILOTTO, FRANCESCO;TOIGO, FLAVIO
1995

Abstract

AIkali atoms have been shown previously to have only unstable binding states inside liquid He-4. We calculate the equilibrium configurations and binding energies of single alkali atoms near the liquid-vapor interface of He-4 and He-3. A simple interface model is used to predict the surface deformation due to the presence of the atoms. A more realistic density functional model yields somewhat higher energies in the case of He-4. For all alkali atoms, we find the surface binding energies to be around 10 to 20 K. A similar analysis with atom-H-2 interactions finds that alkali atoms tend to submerge into liquid H-2, with the exception of Li.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/124908
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