Mechanical and superfluid properties of dislocations in solid He4

Abstract

Dislocations are shown to be smooth at zero temperature because of the effective Coulomb-type interaction between kinks. Crossover to finite temperature rougnehing is suggested to be a mechanism responsible for the softening of \he4 shear modulus recently observed by Day and Beamish (Nature, {\bf 450}, 853 (2007)). We discuss also that strong suppresion of superfuidity along the dislocation core by thermal kinks can lead to locking in of the mechanical and superfluid responses.

4 pages with 2 figures