Frequency Dependence and Dissipation in the Dynamics of Solid Helium

Abstract

Torsional oscillator experiments on solid 4He show frequency changes which suggest mass decoupling, but the onset is broad and is accompanied by a dissipation peak. We have measured the elastic shear modulus over a broad frequency range, from 0.5 Hz to 8 kHz, and observe similar behavior - stiffening and a dissipation peak. These features are associated with a dynamical crossover in a thermally activated relaxation process in a disordered system rather than a true phase transition. If there is a transition in the DC response, e.g. to a supersolid state, it must occur below 55 mK.