Studies Of Submicron 3He Slabs Using A High Precision Torsional Oscillator

A high precision torsional oscillator has been used to study 3He films of thickness in the range 100 to 350 nm. In previous work we found that the films decoupled from the oscillator motion below 60 mK, in the Knudsen limit. This precluded observation of the superfluid transition. Here we report measurements using a torsional oscillator whose highly polished inner surfaces have been decorated with a low density of silver particles to act as random elastic scattering centres. This modification locks the normal film to the surface. A superfluid transition of the film is observed.