QUANTUM PREWETTING TRANSITIONS IN LIQUID-HE-3

Multilayer He-3 film growth on weak-binding alkali substrates is inves tigated with a nonlocal density functional theory. Although He-3 wets all substrates down to zero temperature, prewetting transitions are pr edicted to occur on Cs, Rb, and K. Continuous wetting is recovered wit h increasing strength of substrate potential. Emphasis is put on the r ole played by the Fermi statistics. The heat capacity and the magnetiz ation of the films exhibits steps associated with the occupation of tw o-dimensional Fermi disks.