Spin-Polarized Atomic Deuterium: Stabilization, Limitations on Density, and Adsorption Energy on Helium

Abstract

Current limitations on the density of stabilized spin-polarized deuterium (D↓) to ∼ ${10}^{14}$ atoms/${\mathrm{cm}}^3$ are shown to arise from condensation on the ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ surface and subsequent recombination. A new technique for measuring the adsorption energy is employed to provide the first such measurement for D↓ on helium, yielding $\frac{{\epsilon }_a}{k_B}=2.5\mathrm{}\pm 0.4$ K.