Hydrodynamic Instability and Turbulence in Quantum Fluids

Kyo Yoshida, Toshihico Arimitsu

Šimon Midlik

In this Thesis, we present an excessive study of the dynamics of quantum fluids em- ploying the detectors in the form of mechanical resonating structures with characteristic dimensions below 1 mm. We operate the devices in normal and superfluid liquid phases of both helium isotopes scanning the wide range of temperatures between 2.17 K and ≈ 150 µK. We show, that the detectors in the form of quartz tuning forks and supercon- ducting vibrating wires are suitable probes in both hydrodynamic and ballistic regimes of superfluids, described by two-fluid model. These devices can be used to initiate and observe turbulent transition in quantum fluids leading to the generation of quantum tur- bulence. The same devices can work as detectors of externally driven turbulent flows. The phenomenon of quantum turbulence, representing any turbulent flow of quantum fluids, is discussed in more detail. We further report observation of turbulent onset in mechanically and thermally driven oscillatory flows. This transition can have origin in both of the components of superfluid 4 He, leading to either classical-like instability or "quantum" instability connected with the generation of quantized vortices. Finally, we discuss the properties and potential of the MEMS and NEMS devices, advancing from much smaller dimensions,...

R. J. Donnelly

S. Giovanazzi

An hydrodynamic description of a one-dimensional flow of an ideal Fermi fluid is constructed from a semiclassical approximation. For an initially fully degenerate fluid, Euler and continuity hydrodynamic equations are dual to two uncoupled inviscid Burgers' equations. Yet the price for the initial simplicity of the description is paid by the complexity of non-linear instabilities towards possible turbulent evolutions. Nevertheless, it is shown that linear long-wavelength density perturbations on a stationary flow are generically stable. Consequently, linear sound obeys a wave equation with analogy to gravity. The results have applications for ultra-cold atomic gases.

Makoto Tsubota, Kazuya Fujimoto

We summarize the recent theoretical and numerical works on spin turbulence (ST) in spin-1 spinor Bose-Einstein condensates. When the system is excited from the ground state, it goes through hydrodynamic instability to ST in which the spin density vector has various disordered direction. The properties of ST depend on whether the spin-dependent interaction is ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic. ST has some characteristics different from other kinds of turbulence in quantum fluids. Firstly, the spectrum of the spin-dependent interaction energy exhibits the characteristic power law different from the usual Kolmogorov -5/3 law. Secondly, ST can show the spin-glass-like behavior; the spin density vectors are spatially random but temporally frozen.

Kiryang Kwon, Jae-yoon Choi

Spontaneous pattern formation out of homogeneous media is one of the well-understood examples of hydrodynamic instabilities in classical systems, which naturally leads to the question of its manifestation in quantum fluids. Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of atomic gases have been an ideal platform for studying many-body quantum phenomena, such as superfluidity, and simultaneously providing an opportunity to broaden our understanding of classical hydrodynamics into quantum systems. In this review, we introduce a range of experimental studies on the pattern formation in quantum fluids of atomic gases under external driving, including Faraday waves in one and two dimensions, surface patterns, and counterflow instabilities in a mixture of superfluids. The pattern formation in the quantum system can be understood through the parametric amplification process, where an unstable dynamical mode can be exponentially amplified, similar to classical systems. Remarkably, the governing equations for surface excitations of trapped BECs can be mathematically equivalent to those of shallow water, indicating a universal description of the hydrodynamic instability across classical and quantum domains. However, the condensates, as superfluids, also possess fundamental quantum characteristics, such as quantized vorticity and a distinct dissipation channel. These unique features showcase many-body fragmentation under strong modulation and the generation of vortices in the nonlinear regime, which could offer a pathway to the study of quantum turbulence. Furthermore, the coexistence of long-range phase coherence and density modulation in driven condensates could provide unexplored features, such as those seen in supersolid-like sound modes, within nonequilibrium settings.