Turbulence in quantum fluids

This paper reviews briefly the recent important developments in the physics of quantum turbulence (QT) in superfluid helium and atomic Bose-Einstain condensates (BECs). After giving basics of quantum hydrodynamics, we discuss energy spectrum, QT created by vibrating structures, visualization among topics on superfluid helium. For atomic BECs we review three-dimensional QT, two-component BECs, and spin turbulence in spinor BECs. The last part is devoted to some perspectives of this issue.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1208.0422, arXiv:0901.460

Hydrodynamic Instability and Turbulence in Quantum Fluids

Superfluid turbulence consisting of quantized vortices is called quantum turbulence (QT). Quantum turbulence and quantized vortices were discovered in superfluid $^4$He about 50 years ago, but innovation has occurred recently in this field. One is in the field of superfluid helium. Statistical quantities such as energy spectra and probability distribution function of the velocity field have been accessible both experimentally and numerically. Visualization technique has developed and succeeded in the direct visualization of quantized vortices. The other innovation is in the field of atomic Bose-Einstein condensation. The modern optical technique has enabled us to control and visualize directly the condensate and quantized vortices. Various kinds of hydrodynamic instability have been revealed. Even QT is realized experimentally. This article describes such recent developments as well as the motivation of studying QT.Comment: submitted to Proceedings of QFS201

Quantum turbulence: From superfluid helium to atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

This article reviews recent developments in quantum fluid dynamics and quantum turbulence (QT) for superfluid helium and atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. Quantum turbulence was discovered in superfluid $^4$He in the 1950s, but the field moved in a new direction starting around the mid 1990s. Quantum turbulence is comprised of quantized vortices that are definite topological defects arising from the order parameter appearing in Bose-Einstein condensation. Hence QT is expected to yield a simpler model of turbulence than does conventional turbulence. A general introduction to this issue and a brief review of the basic concepts are followed by a description of vortex lattice formation in a rotating atomic Bose-Einstein condensate, typical of quantum fluid dynamics. Then we discuss recent developments in QT of superfluid helium such as the energy spectra and dissipative mechanisms at low temperatures, QT created by vibrating structures, and the visualization of QT. As an application of these ideas, we end with a discussion of QT in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

Spin Turbulence in a Trapped Spin-1 Spinor Bose--Einstein Condensate

We numerically study spin turbulence in a two-dimensional trapped spin-1 spinor Bose--Einstein condensate, focusing on the energy spectrum. The spin turbulence in the trapped system is generated by instability of the helical structure of the spin density vector in the initial state. Our numerical calculation finds that in the trapped system the spectrum of the spin-dependent interaction energy in the ferromagnetic case exhibits a -7/3 power law, which was confirmed in a uniform system by our previous study. The relation between the -7/3 power law and the motion of the spin density vector is discussed by investigating the orbits of dynamical variables in the spin space

Spherically symmetric formation of localized vortex tangle around a heat source in superfluid 4^4He

We study the dynamical process of the vortex tangle development under a spherically symmetric thermal counterflow around a heat source submerged into a bulk superfluid 4He. We reveal a peculiar vortex dynamics that is unique to this geometry, which is greatly diverse from the vortex dynamics in a homogeneous counterflow. Two types of heater are considered here, namely, a spherical heater with a solid wall and a point-like heater. In both cases, a spherical vortex tangle is formed surrounding the heater. The mechanism of vortex tangle development in the vicinity of a solid wall is strongly governed by Donnelly-Glaberson instability; while, far away from the heater or around a point heater, the mechanism is governed by the dynamics of polarized vortex loops in radial counterflow. The decay process of such localized vortex tangles is also investigated and is compared with that of homogeneous vortex tangles

Numerical Studies of Counterflow Turbulence, Velocity Distribution of Vortices

We performed the numerical simulation of quantum turbulence produced by thermal counterflow in superfluid $^{4}${\rm He} by using the vortex filament model. The pioneering work was made by Schwarz, which has two defects. One is neglecting non-local terms of the Biot-Savart integral (localized induction approximation, LIA), and the other is the unphysical mixing procedure in order to sustain the statistically steady state of turbulence. We succeeded in making the statistically steady state without the LIA and the mixing. This state shows the characteristic relation $L=\gamma^2 v_{ns}^2$ between the line-length-density $L$ and the counterflow relative velocity $v_{ns}$ with the quantitative agreement of the coefficient $\gamma$ with some typical observations. We compare our numerical results to the observation of experiment by Paoletti {\it et al}, where thermal couterflow was visualized by solid hydrogen particles.Comment: 6 pages, 12 figures, svjour3.st

Spin-superflow turbulence in spin-1 ferromagnetic spinor Bose-Einstein condensates

Spin-superflow turbulence (SST) in spin-1 ferromagnetic spinor Bose-Einstein condensates is theoretically and numerically studied by using the spinor Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equations. SST is turbulence in which the disturbed spin and superfluid velocity fields are coupled. Applying the Kolmogorov-type dimensional scaling analysis to the hydrodynamic equations of spin and velocity fields, we theoretically find that the -5/3 and -7/3 power laws appear in spectra of the superflow kinetic and the spin-dependent interaction energy, respectively. Our numerical calculation of the GP equations confirms SST with the coexistence of disturbed spin and superfluid velocity field with two power laws.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Counterflow quantum turbulence in a square channel under the normal fluid with a Poiseuille flow

We perform a numerical analysis of superfluid turbulence produced by thermal counterflow in He II by using the vortex filament model. Counterflow in a low aspect ratio channel is known to show the transition from laminar flow to the two turbulent states TI and TII. The present understanding is that the TI has the turbulent superfluid and the laminar normal fluid but both fluids are turbulent in the TII state. This work studies the vortex tangle in the TI state. Solid boundary condition is applied to walls of a square channel, and the velocity field of the normal fluid is prescribed to be a laminar Poiseuille profile. An inhomogeneous vortex tangle, which concentrates near the solid boundaries, is obtained as the statistically steady state. It is sustained by its characteristic space-time oscillation. The inhomogeneity of the vortex tangle shows the characteristic dependence on temperature, which is caused by two competitive effects, namely the profile of the counterflow velocity and the mutual friction.Comment: submitted to the proceedings of LT2

Onsager vortex formation in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates

We numerically study the dynamics of quantized vortices in two-dimensional two-component Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) trapped by a box potential. For one-component BECs in a box potential, it is known that quantized vortices form Onsager vortices, which are clusters of same-sign vortices. We confirm that the vortices of the two components spatially separate from each other-even for miscible two-component BECs-suppressing the formation of Onsager vortices. This phenomenon is caused by the repulsive interaction between vortices belonging to different components, hence, suggesting a new possibility for vortex phase separation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Expansion of a Bose-Einstein Condensate with Vortices

The expansion of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) is numerically studied. Usually, the aspect ratio of a condensate is inverted due to the anisotropy of the uncertainty principle. In turbulent BECs, however, the aspect ratio remains constant. The reason for this phenomenon is still unknown, being a challenging topic in the study of quantum turbulence. Here, the two-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation is solved and the time development of the aspect ratio and of the radii of the condensates are calculated in the presence of vortices. The results indicate that vortex pairs must be added to a condensate in order to expand it while maintaining its aspect ratio. The anisotropy due to the vortex pairs competes with that due to the uncertainty principle so that the aspect ratio remains constant