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Neutron reflection from the liquid helium surface.

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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>04/2008
<mark>Journal</mark>Low Temperature Physics
Issue number4
Volume34
Number of pages4
Pages (from-to)316-319
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The reflection of neutrons from a helium surface has been observed for the first time. The 4He surface is smoother in the superfluid state at 1.54 K than in the case of the normal liquid at 2.3 K. In the superfluid state we also observe a surface layer ~200 Å thick which has a subtly different neutron scattering cross-section, which may be explained by an enhanced Bose-Einstein condensate fraction close to the helium surface. The application of neutron reflectometry described in this paper creates new and exciting opportunities for the surface and interfacial study of quantum fluids.