Homogeneous nucleation inHe4: A corresponding-states analysis

We report homogeneous-nucleation-temperature measurements in liquid ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ over a bath-temperature range $2.31<\mathrm{}{T}_b<4.62\mathrm{}$ K. These measurements were performed with the use of a transient superheating technique. The nucleation data constitute a demonstration of the quantitative accuracy of the Becker-Döring nucleation theory in describing the first-order transition kinetics in a quantum liquid, such as liquid ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$, in a region far from the critical point. A simple empirical form is presented for estimating the homogeneous-nucleation temperatures for any liquid with a spherically symmetric interatomic potential. The ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ data are compared with nucleation data for Ar, Kr, Xe, and ${\mathrm{H}}_2$; theoretical predictions for ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ are given in terms of reduced quantities. It is shown that the nucleation data for both quantum and classical liquids obey a quantum law of corresponding states (QCS). On the basis of this QCS analysis, predictions of homogeneous-nucleation temperatures are made for hydrogen isotopes such as HD, DT, HT, and ${\mathrm{T}}_2$.