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Published on: February 3, 2014
Stability and dissipation of laminar vortex flow in superfluid 3He-B
V B Eltsov1, R de Graaf, P J Heikkinen
1Low Temperature Laboratory, School of Science and Technology, Aalto University, Finland.
Physical Review Letters
|September 28, 2010
Summary
Superfluid helium-3 B (3He-B) exhibits laminar vortex flow at high Reynolds numbers, unlike other fluids. This laminar flow shows minimal dissipation as temperature approaches absolute zero.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Quantum fluids
- Superfluidity
Background:
- Dissipation in superfluids near absolute zero is a key unresolved question.
- Vortex line dynamics govern energy dissipation in superfluids.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate vortex line flow dynamics and dissipation in superfluid 3He-B.
- Determine the flow regime (laminar vs. turbulent) and associated dissipation mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements.
- Vortex filament calculations.
Main Results:
- Vortex flow in 3He-B remains laminar up to Reynolds numbers of approximately 10^3.
- Laminar flow persists despite perturbations from axial symmetry below 0.2Tc.
- No excess dissipation beyond mutual friction was observed in the laminar regime.
Conclusions:
- Superfluid 3He-B supports laminar vortex flow at significantly higher Reynolds numbers than previously observed.
- Dissipation in 3He-B approaches zero at low temperatures, contrasting with turbulent superfluids.
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