Trapping of metallic nanoparticles under the free surface of superfluid helium in a static electric field

Abstract

Electrically charged metallic microparticles and nanoparticles have been trapped under a free surface of superfluid He-4 in a vertical static electric field. We report the details of the trapping technique and the observed dynamics of the trapped particles moving along the surface and driven by surface waves, by a static horizontal electric field, and by a thermal counterflow within the surface layer of liquid He.