Path-Dependent Supercooling of the ${}^3$He Superfluid A-B transition

Abstract

We examine the discontinuous first-order superfluid ${}^3$He A to B transition in the vicinity of the polycritical point (2.232 mK and 21.22 bar). We find path-dependent transitions: cooling at fixed pressure yields a well defined transition line in the temperature-pressure plane, but this line can be reliably crossed by depressurizing at nearly constant temperature after transiting $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ at a higher pressure. This path dependence is not consistent with any of the standard B-phase nucleation mechanisms in the literature. This symmetry breaking transition is a potential simulator for first order transitions in the early universe.