Thermal nucleation of cavities in liquid helium at negative pressures

Abstract

We have investigated the nucleation rate at which cavities are formed in ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ and ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ at negative pressures due to thermal fluctuations. To this end, we have used a density functional that reproduces the He liquid-gas interface along the coexistence line. The inclusion of thermal effects in the calculation of the barrier against nucleation results in a sizable decrease of the absolute value of the tensile strength above 1.5 K.