Mobility of positive ions in normal³He

Abstract

The mobility of positive ions in liquid 3He is calculated using a modification of the theory of Josephson and Lekner (1969). The mobility is predicted to increase linearly with ln(T0/T) for temperatures between 2 and 50 mK. This is in accord with the experimental results. There is no discontinuity in the mobility according to the theory. It is suggested that the rapid drop in the mobility at 70 mK is caused by 4He atoms condensing on to the surface of the ion, resulting in an increase in the radius of the ion.