Curvature effects on the surface thickness and tension at the free interface of 4He systems

L. SZYBISZ; I. URRUTIA

PHYSICAL REVIEW B - CONDENSED MATTER AND MATERIALS PHYSICS

APS

Año: 2003 vol. 68 p. 54518 - 54531

0163-1829

The thickness W and the surface energy A at the free interface of superfluid 4 He are studied. Results of calculations carried out using density functionals for cylindrical and spherical systems are presented in a unified way, including a comparison with the behavior of planar slabs. It is found that for large species W is independent of the geometry. The obtained values of W are compared with prior theoretical results and experimental data. Experimental data favor results evaluated by adopting finite range approaches. The behavior of A and W A exhibits overshoots similar to that found previously for the central density, and the trend ofthese observables towards their asymptotic values is examined.