Exotic Superfluids and Superconductors

Dr. William Halperin

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Northwestern University

There are now reports of quantum fluid-like behavior in gases liquids and solids. In this informal talk I will focus on a class of these superfluids that form from Fermi liquids, these are the superconductors and superfluid 3He. Of particular interest today are inhomogeneity in these quantum fluids. In many cases it is the inhomogeneity that lead to breakdown of the superfluid behavior. I will discuss some new experiments from my lab; in the case of the superconductors the inhomogeneity are vortices produced in very high magnetic fields and for superfluid 3He it is from impurities obtained using highly porous silica aerogels.