2003/12/03 by Kirk T. McDonald, McDonald, Kirk T.
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.quant-ph/0312037
4 pages, 1 figure
arxiv created 2003/12/03 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
When an electron (or positronium atom) is injected into liquid helium with nearly zero energy, a bubble quickly forms around it. This phenomenon (which also occurs in liquid hydrogen, liquid neon and possibly in solid helium) lowers the mobility of the electron to a value similar to that for a positive ion. We estimate the radius of the bubble at zero pressure and temperature based on the zero point energy of the electron. If the liquid is held in a state of negative pressure, the bubble will expand beyond the radius at zero pressure. We also estimate the negative pressure such that a bubble once formed will grow without limit.