Metastability and Nucleation ofHe3-He4Mixtures near the Tricritical Point

Abstract

Homogeneous nucleation of phase separation has been investigated in liquid ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$-${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ mixtures. Near the tricritical point the maximum supercooling marking the boundary of the metastable region is strongly enhanced compared to ordinary critical fluids. Beyond the metastability limit, the observed growth of the new phase is in good accord with a theory of Lifshitz and Slyozov.