Quantum Plasticity and Supersolid Response in Helium-4

Abstract

We argue that the three key phenomena recently observed in solid $^4$He---mass supertransport, anomalous isochoric compressibility (syringe effect), and giant plasticity---are closely linked to each other through the physics of an interconnected network of tilted quantum-rough dislocations. As immediate implications of this connection several predictions follow: In the absence of $^3$He impurities, the syringe effect and giant plasticity persist down to $T=0$; the dynamical low-frequency syringe and giant-plasticity responses are dispersionless; and similarly to giant plasticity but without direct relationship to the supertransport along the dislocation cores, $^3$He impurities should suppress the syringe effect partially or completely at appropriately low temperatures.