Fate of Pomeranchuk effect in ultrahigh magnetic fields
The Pomeranchuk effect is a counterintuitive phenomenon where liquid helium-3 (<sup>3</sup>He) solidifies under specific pressures, not when cooled, but when heated. This behaviour originates from the magnetic entropy of nuclear spins, suggesting a magnetic field should influence it. However, its detailed response to magnetic fields remains elusive due to the small nuclear magneton of <sup>3</sup>He and lack of analogous fermion systems. Here, we show that an electron system also exhibit the Pomeranchuk effect, where the Fermi liquid state solidifies in a high magnetic field, unlike conventional electron systems where a field melts an electron solid into a metal. Remarkably, the electron system displays a reentrant liquid state in ultrahigh fields. These responses are explained by changes in magnetic entropy and magnetisation, extending the underlying physics to <sup>3</sup>He. Our findings clarify magnetic-field impact on the Pomeranchuk effect and open avenues for magnetic control of chemical interactions.
Authors
- So Yokomori (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3472-3368)
- Toshihiro Nomura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7883-2072)
- Shusaku Imajo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9870-3596)
- Hajime Ishikawa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1303-9460)
- Hatsumi Mori
- Yuto Ishii (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6849-8915)
- Naofumi Matsuyama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5143-4198)
- Hiroaki Hayashi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7787-9082)
- Kazuki Matsui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6032-0828)
- K. Kindo
- Yasuhiro H. Matsuda
Institutions
- Shizuoka University (JP)
- Rikkyo University (JP)
- Tokyo University of Information Sciences (JP)
- Matsuyama University (JP)
- Ibaraki University (JP)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-01-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67053-4
- Primary Topic
- Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science