Critical Casimir effect and wetting by helium mixtures

Abstract

We have measured the contact angle of the interface of phase-separated ${}^3$He-${}^4$He mixtures against a sapphire window. We have found that this angle is finite and does not tend to zero when the temperature approaches $T_t$, the temperature of the tri-critical point. On the contrary, it increases with temperature. This behavior is a remarkable exception to what is generally observed near critical points, i.e. "critical point wetting''. We propose that it is a consequence of the "critical Casimir effect'' which leads to an effective attraction of the ${}^3$He-${}^4$He interface by the sapphire near $T_t$.

submitted july 13 (2002), published march 20 (2003)