Magnetization and Spin-Diffusion of Liquid 3He in Aerogel

Abstract

We report theoretical calculations of the normal-state spin diffusion coefficient of 3He in aerogel, including both elastic and inelastic scattering of 3He quasiparticles, and compare these results with experimental data for 3He in 98% porous silica aerogel. This analysis provides a determination of the elastic mean free path within the aerogel. Measurements of the magnetization of the superfluid phase provide a test of the theory of pairbreaking and magnetic response of low-energy excitations in the ``dirty'' B-phase of 3He in aerogel. A consistent interpretation of the data for the spin-diffusion coefficient, magnetization and superfluid transition temperature is obtained by including correlation effects in the aerogel density.

7 pages with 9 figures