Phase diagram of superfluid 3He in "nematically ordered" aerogel

Results of experiments with liquid 3He immersed in a new type of aerogel are described. This aerogel consists of Al2O3 strands which are nearly parallel to each other, so we call it as a "nematically ordered" aerogel. At all used pressures a superfluid transition was observed and a superfluid phase diagram was measured. Possible structures of the observed superfluid phases are discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures. Submitted to Pis'ma v ZhETF (JETP Letters

Half - Quantum Vortices

Unlike to superfluid $^4$He the superfluid $^3$He-A support the existence of vortices with half quantum of circulation as well as single quantum vortices. The singular single quanta vortices as well as nonsingular vortices with 2 quanta of circulation have been revealed in rotating $^3$He-A. However, the half quantum vortices in open geometry always possess an extra energy due to spin-orbit coupling leading to formation of domain wall at distances larger than dipole length $\sim 10^{-3}cm$ from the vortex axis. Fortunately the same magnetic dipole-dipole interaction does not prevent the existence of half-quantum vortices in the polar phase of superfluid $^3$He recently discovered in peculiar porous media "nematically ordered" aerogel. Here we discuss this exotic possibility. The discoveries of half-quantum vortices in triplet pairing superconductor Sr$_2$RuO$_4$ as well in the exciton-polariton condensates are the other parts of the story about half-quantum vortices also described in the paper.Comment: 6 pages, no figure