Ultrasonic attenuation in a quadrupolar solid

A general expression for the high-temperature ultrasonic attenuation in a quadrupolar solid is derived. The four-point correlation function occurring in this expression is then factored into products of two-point functions so that the attenuation is proportional to the convolution of two of the usual two-point angular momentum correlation functions. Using first-principles results for these functions, which were previously obtained for solid H2, the field-dependent or resonant part of the ultrasonic attenuation is then calculated as a function of ortho-H2 concentration c. The result of this calculation indicates that the resonant attenuation for solid H2 has a magnitude such that it could be observable by current techniques. A new kind of ultrasonic magnetic resonance is thus predicted.