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Kelvin-wave cascade and dissipation in low-temperature superfluid vortices
1Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR7293, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, B.P. 4229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4, France.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|December 11, 2012
Summary
This study analyzes Kelvin waves on superfluid vortices using the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Results confirm weak-turbulence predictions for the inertial range and reveal non-Gaussian fluctuations in the dissipative range.
Area of Science:
- Quantum fluid dynamics
- Statistical physics
Background:
- Quantized superfluid vortices support Kelvin waves.
- The Gross-Pitaevskii equation models superfluid dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate statistical properties of Kelvin waves.
- Determine the Kelvin-wave occupation-number spectrum.
- Compare numerical results with weak-turbulence theory.
Main Methods:
- Simulations based on the Gross-Pitaevskii equation.
- Accurate tracking of vortex positions.
- Long time integration and ensemble averaging.
Main Results:
- The Kelvin-wave occupation-number spectrum is obtained directly.
- Kelvin-wave modes in the inertial range are Gaussian, matching weak-turbulence predictions.
- Strong non-Gaussian fluctuations are observed in the dissipative range.
Conclusions:
- Numerical findings support the theoretical spectrum for Kelvin waves.
- The study provides insights into the statistical behavior of Kelvin waves in superfluids.
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