Superfluidity of dense 4He in Vycor -: art. no. 185301

We calculate properties of a model of He-4 in Vycor using the path integral Monte Carlo method. We find that He-4 forms a distinct layered structure with a highly localized first layer, a disordered second layer with some atoms delocalized and able to give rise to the observed superfluid response, and higher layers of nearly perfect crystals. The addition of a single He-3 atom was enough to bring down the total superfluidity by blocking the exchange in the second layer. Our results are consistent with the persistent liquid-layer model to explain the observations. Such a model may be relevant to the experiments on bulk solid He-4, if there is a fine network of grain boundaries in those systems.