arXiv subjects

P. J. Heikkinen

Publications and source records attributed to P. J. Heikkinen.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Turbulent Vortex Flow Responses at the AB Interface in Rotating Superfluid 3He-B

In a rotating two-phase sample of 3He-B and magnetic-field stabilized 3He-A the large difference in mutual friction dissipation at 0.20 Tc gives rise to unusual vortex flow responses. We use noninvasive NMR techniques to monitor spin down and spin up of the B-phase superfluid component to a sudden change in the rotation velocity. Compared to measurements at low field with no A-phase, where these responses are laminar in cylindrically symmetric flow, spin down with vortices extending across the AB interface is found to be faster, indicating enhanced dissipation from turbulence. Spin up in turn is slower, owing to rapid annihilation of remanent vortices before the rotation increase. As confirmed by both our NMR signal analysis and vortex filament calculations, these observations are explained by the additional force acting on the B-phase vortex ends at the AB interface.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2011

Superfluid vortex front at T -> 0: Decoupling from the reference frame

Steady-state turbulent motion is created in superfluid 3He-B at low temperatures in the form of a turbulent vortex front, which moves axially along a rotating cylindrical container of 3He-B and replaces vortex-free flow with vortex lines at constant density. We present the first measurements on the thermal signal from dissipation as a function of time, recorded at 0.2 Tc during the front motion, which is monitored using NMR techniques. Both the measurements and the numerical calculations of the vortex dynamics show that at low temperatures the density of the propagating vortices falls well below the equilibrium value, i.e. the superfluid rotates at a smaller angular velocity than the container. This is the first evidence for the decoupling of the superfluid from the container reference frame in the zero-temperature limit.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2011

Textures of Superfluid 3He-B in Applied Flow and Comparison with Hydrostatic Theory

Measurements of the order parameter texture of rotating superfluid 3He-B have been performed as a function of the applied azimuthal counterflow velocity down to temperatures of 0.2Tc. The results are compared to the hydrostatic theory of 3He-B. Good agreement is found at all measured temperatures and rotation velocities when the flow anisotropy contribution to the textural free energy is adjusted. This gives a superfluid energy gap Delta(T) which agrees with that measured by Todoshchenko et al., with Delta(0)=1.97kBTc at 29.0 bar. The B-phase susceptibility, longitudinal resonance frequency, and textural phase transition have been extracted from the measurements as a function of temperature and azimuthal counterflow velocity. Owing to decreasing absorption intensities the present measuring method, based on the line shape analysis of the NMR spectrum, loses its sensitivity with decreasing temperature. However, we find that in practice the measurement of vortex numbers and counterflow velocities is still feasible down to 0.2Tc.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Super Stability of Laminar Vortex Flow in Superfluid 3He-B

Vortex flow remains laminar up to large Reynolds numbers (Re~1000) in a cylinder filled with 3He-B. This is inferred from NMR measurements and numerical vortex filament calculations where we study the spin up and spin down responses of the superfluid component, after a sudden change in rotation velocity. In normal fluids and in superfluid 4He these responses are turbulent. In 3He-B the vortex core radius is much larger which reduces both surface pinning and vortex reconnections, the phenomena, which enhance vortex bending and the creation of turbulent tangles. Thus the origin for the greater stability of vortex flow in 3He-B is a quantum phenomenon. Only large flow perturbations are found to make the responses turbulent, such as the walls of a cubic container or the presence of invasive measuring probes inside the container.

cond-mat.other↗