Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > Observation of quantum turbulence in superfluid...

Electronic data

Links

Text available via DOI:

View graph of relations

Observation of quantum turbulence in superfluid 3He-B using reflection and transmission of ballistic thermal excitations

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
Article number094518
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>24/03/2017
<mark>Journal</mark>Physical review B
Number of pages6
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

We report measurements of quantum turbulence generated by a vibrating grid in superfluid $^3$He-B at zero pressure in the zero temperature limit. Superfluid flow around individual vortex lines Andreev-reflects incoming thermal ballistic quasiparticle excitations, and allows non-invasive detection of quantum vortices in $^3$He-B. We have compared two Andreev reflection-based techniques traditionally used to detect quantum turbulence in the ballistic regime: quasiparticle transmission through and reflection from ballistic vortex rings and a turbulent tangle. We have shown that the two methods are in very good agreement and thus complement each other. Our measurements reveal that vortex rings and a tangle generated by a vibrating grid have a much larger spatial extent than previously realised. Furthermore, we find that a vortex tangle can either pass through an obstacle made from a mesh or diffuse around it. The measured dependence of vortex signal as a function of the distance from the vibrating grid is consistent with a power-law behaviour in contrast to turbulence generated by a vibrating wire which is described by an exponential function.