The influence of superfluidity on impurities condensation in liquid helium

All major aspects of the influence of superfluidity in He II on the processes of condensation of impurities suspended in it have been analyzed. Particular attention is given to the recently discovered phenomenon of impurities coalescence catalysis by quantized vortices in superfluid helium. The presence of quantized vortices not only tremendously accelerates the condensation process for any substance introduced into liquid helium but also gives rise to a completely new product long and thin nanowires. The role of local overheating, which accompanies coalescence of particles inside superfluid helium, in formation of morphology and structure of impurity helium condensates, including molecular crystals containing stabilized active atoms, is elucidated. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4766584]