Evidence of 1D behaviour of He${}^4$ confined within carbon-nanotube bundles

Abstract

We present the first low-temperature thermodynamic investigation of the controlled physisorption of He${}^4$ gas in carbon single-wall nanotube (SWNT) samples. The vibrational specific heat measured between 100 mK and 6 K demonstrates an extreme sensitivity to outgassing conditions. For bundles with a few number of NTs the extra contribution to the specific heat, C${}_{ads}$, originating from adsorbed He${}^4$ at very low density displays 1D behavior, typical for He atoms localized within linear channels as grooves and interstitials, for the first time evidenced. For larger bundles, C${}_{ads}$ recovers the 2D behaviour akin to the case of He${}^4$ films on planar substrates (grafoil).

4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett