Phase diagram of 4He adsorbed on graphite

P. Corboz, M. Boninsegni, L. Pollet, M. Troyer

Published 2008-06-18, updated 2008-11-12Version 2

We present results of a theoretical study of 4He films adsorbed on graphite, based on the continuous space worm algorithm. In the first layer, we find a domain-wall phase and a (7/16) registered structure between the commensurate (1/3) and the incommensurate solid phases. For the second layer, we find only superfluid and incommensurate solid phases. The commensurate phase found in previous simulation work is only observed if first layer particles are kept fixed; it disappears upon explicitly including their zero-point fluctuations. No evidence of any "supersolid" phase is found.