QUANTUM PREWETTING TRANSITIONS IN LIQUID-HE-3

Multilayer He-3 film growth on weak-binding alkali substrates is investigated with a nonlocal density functional theory. Although He-3 wets all substrates down to zero temperature, prewetting transitions are predicted to occur on Cs, Rb, and K. Continuous wetting is recovered with increasing strength of substrate potential. Emphasis is put on the role played by the Fermi statistics. The heat capacity and the magnetization of the films exhibits steps associated with the occupation of two-dimensional Fermi disks.