Nonlocality in Homogeneous Superfluid Turbulence

Simulating superfluid turbulence using the localized induction approximation in periodic bound- aries produces open-orbit vortices, which make superfluid turbulence unsustainable. Calculating with the fully nonlocal Biot-Savart law prevents the open-orbit state from forming, but also in- creases computation time. We use a truncated Biot-Savart integral to investigate the effects of nonlocality on homogeneous turbulence. We find that including the nonlocal interaction up to the average intervortex spacing prevents this open-orbit state from forming, yielding an accurate model of homogeneous superfluid turbulence with less computation time

Smooth vortex precession in superfluid 4He

We have measured a precessing superfluid vortex line, stretched from a wire to the wall of a cylindrical cell. By contrast to previous experiments with a similar geometry, the motion along the wall is smooth. The key difference is probably that our wire is substantially off center. We verify several numerical predictions about the motion, including an asymmetry in the precession signature, the behavior of pinning events, and the temperature dependence of the precession.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Sixty Years of Quantized Circulation

Vinen's vibrating wire experiment detected quantized vortices in superfluid 4He, with the anticipated circulation quantum h/m. In addition to this main result, Vinen used his data to propose other properties and behaviors of vortices, which are revisited here. Subsequent work confirmed that non-quantized values occur when vortices cover only part of the wire's length, and that the size of the covered section can change easily. Any motion of the detached portion of the vortex induces changes in the circulation around the wire, which provides a means of tracking the free vortex. Particularly distinctive signatures correspond to a circular motion of the vortex through the cell and to Kelvin waves along the free vortex. Another issue, the lack of stability of multi-quantum states, can also be explained through simple arguments, in which the possibility of a partially detached vortex again plays a key role. Vibrating wire measurements descended from Vinen's continue to probe superfluid flow.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Energy Loss from a Moving Vortex in Superfluid Helium

We present measurements on both energy loss and pinning for a vortex terminating on the curved surface of a cylindrical container. We vary surface roughness, cell diameter, fluid velocity, and temperature. Although energy loss and pinning both arise from interactions between the vortex and the surface, their dependences on the experimental parameters differ, suggesting that different mechanisms govern the two effects. We propose that the energy loss stems from reconnections with a mesh of microscopic vortices that covers the cell wall, while pinning is dominated by other influences such as the local fluid velocity.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Energy Loss from Reconnection with a Vortex Mesh

Experiments in superfluid 4He show that at low temperatures, energy dissipation from moving vortices is many orders of magnitude larger than expected from mutual friction. Here we investigate other mechanisms for energy loss by a computational study of a vortex that moves through and reconnects with a mesh of small vortices pinned to the container wall. We find that such reconnections enhance energy loss from the moving vortex by a factor of up to 100 beyond that with no mesh. The enhancement occurs through two different mechanisms, both involving the Kelvin oscillations generated along the vortex by the reconnections. At relatively high temperatures the Kelvin waves increase the vortex motion, leading to more energy loss through mutual friction. As the temperature decreases, the vortex oscillations generate additional reconnection events between the moving vortex and the wall, which decrease the energy of the moving vortex by transfering portions of its length to the pinned mesh on the wall.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure