Intertwined superfluid and density wave order in two-dimensional 4He

Jan Nyeki, Anastasia Phillis, Andrew Ho, Derek Lee, Piers Coleman, Jeevak Parpia, Brian Cowan, John Saunders

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Abstract

Superfluidity is a manifestation of the operation of the laws of quantum mechanics on a macroscopic scale. The conditions under which superfluidity becomes manifest have been extensively explored experimentally in both quantum liquids (liquid 4He being the canonical example) and ultracold atomic gases, including as a function of dimensionality. Of particular interest is the hitherto unresolved question of whether a solid can be superfluid. Here we report the identification of a new state of quantum matter with intertwined superfluid and density wave order in a system of two-dimensional bosons subject to a triangular lattice potential. Using a torsional oscillator we have measured the superfluid response of the second atomic layer of 4He adsorbed on the surface of graphite, over a wide temperature range down to 2 mK. Superfluidity is observed over a narrow range of film densities, emerging suddenly and subsequently collapsing towards a quantum critical point. The unusual temperature dependence of the superfluid density in the limit of zero temperature and the absence of a clear superfluid onset temperature are explained, self-consistently, by an ansatz for the excitation spectrum, reflecting density wave order, and a quasi-condensate wavefunction breaking both gauge and translational symmetry.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)455-459
Number of pages5
JournalNature Physics
Volume13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Feb 2017

Keywords

  • superfluidity
  • density wave
  • helium film
  • quantum critical point
  • supersolid
  • gauge symmetry
  • translational symmetry
  • torsional oscillator
  • atomic gas
  • 2D bosons
  • triangular lattice
  • condensate

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