We discuss phenomenology associated with turbulent hydrodynamics in quantum fluids from a condensed-matter perspective. We begin with weakly-interacting superfluids, often modeled by a mean-field theory governed by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Considering the effect of quantum fluctuations beyond the mean-field approximation, we propose a study of many-body quantum effects in turbulent hydrodynamics, especially near zero temperature. We motivate examples of quantum many-body systems where such effects may be uncovered. These include bosons confined in a periodic potential in low spatial dimensions (one and two), and the associated quantum critical point of the superfluid-insulator transition, realized in present-day ultracold-atom and quantum computing platforms. We conclude by listing a set of (open) questions that may be answered using modern quantum many-body techniques. This article is part of the theme issue 'Frontiers of turbulence and statistical physics'.
We discuss phenomenology associated with turbulent hydrodynamics in quantum fluids from a condensed-matter perspective. We begin with weakly-interacting superfluids, often modeled by a mean-field theory governed by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Considering the effect of quantum fluctuations beyond the mean-field approximation, we propose a study of many-body quantum effects in turbulent hydrodynamics, especially near zero temperature. We motivate examples of quantum many-body systems where such effects may be uncovered. These include bosons confined in a periodic potential in low spatial dimensions (one and two), and the associated quantum critical point of the superfluid-insulator transition, realized in present-day ultracold-atom and quantum computing platforms. We conclude by listing a set of (open) questions that may be answered using modern quantum many-body techniques. This article is part of the theme issue 'Frontiers of turbulence and statistical physics'.
We discuss phenomenology associated with turbulent hydrodynamics in quantum fluids from a condensed-matter perspective. We begin with weakly interacting superfluids, often modelled by a mean-field theory governed by the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation. Considering the effect of quantum fluctuations beyond the mean-field approximation, we propose a study of many-body quantum effects in turbulent hydrodynamics, especially near zero temperature. We indicate examples of quantum many-body systems where such effects may be uncovered. These include bosons confined in a periodic potential in low spatial dimensions (one and two), and the associated quantum critical point of the superfluid-insulator transition, realized in present-day ultracold-atom and quantum computing platforms. We conclude by listing a set of (open) questions that may be answered using modern quantum many-body techniques. This article is part of the theme issue 'Frontiers of turbulence and statistical physics'.
Quantum turbulence shares many similarities with classical turbulence in the isotropic and homogeneous case, despite the inviscid and quantized nature of its vortices. However, when quantum fluids are subjected to rotation, their turbulent dynamics depart significantly from the classical expectations. We explore the phenomenology of rotating quantum turbulence, emphasizing how rotation introduces new regimes with no classical analogues. We review recent theoretical, experimental and numerical developments, and present new numerical results that map out distinct dynamical regimes arising from the interplay of rotation, quantization, nonlinearities and condensed matter regimes. In particular, we show the importance of distinguishing the dynamics of rotating quantum fluids in the slowly rotating, rapidly rotating and low Landau level regimes. The findings have implications for the dynamics of liquid helium, atomic Bose-Einstein condensates and neutron stars, and show how rotating quantum fluids can serve as a unique platform bridging turbulence theory and condensed matter physics, revealing novel states of out-of-equilibrium quantum matter. This article is part of the theme issue 'Frontiers of turbulence and statistical physics'.
The term quantum turbulence denotes the turbulent motion of quantum fluids, systems such as superfluid helium and atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, which are characterized by quantized vorticity, superfluidity, and, at finite temperatures, two-fluid behavior. This article introduces their basic properties, describes types and regimes of turbulence that have been observed, and highlights similarities and differences between quantum turbulence and classical turbulence in ordinary fluids. Our aim is also to link together the articles of this special issue and to provide a perspective of the future development of a subject that contains aspects of fluid mechanics, atomic physics, condensed matter, and low-temperature physics.
Abstract This book serves as a comprehensive textbook on quantum hydrodynamics and quantum turbulence, focusing on the hydrodynamics of quantum-condensed systems at low temperatures. A defining feature of these systems is the presence of an order parameter, leading to unique phenomena such as inviscid superfluid flow and vortex quantization—characteristics absent in classical hydrodynamics. The turbulence arising in these systems is known as quantum turbulence. This field lies at the intersection of several disciplines, including low-temperature condensed matter physics, fluid dynamics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and nonlinear and non-equilibrium physics. The primary systems discussed in this book are superfluid 4He, superfluid 3He, and atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). The study of quantum hydrodynamics began with the discovery of quantum turbulence in superfluid 4He in the 1950s. Superfluid 3He, discovered in 1972, was the first anisotropic superfluid, providing a platform to explore various topological defects. The realization of atomic BECs in 1995 through laser cooling marked a significant breakthrough, offering precise control over condensates and enabling the visualization of quantized vortices. In crafting this book, we aimed to present a unified narrative that emphasizes the common physics underlying these systems, rather than treating them in isolation. The content is tailored for first-year graduate students, ensuring clarity without the need for supplementary references. As both authors are theorists, we have placed a stronger emphasis on theoretical aspects over experimental findings.
Quantum fluctuations play a pivotal role in determining the ground state properties and phase transitions of ultra-cold bosonic systems. This study presents a comprehensive theoretical investigation of fluctuation effects beyond mean-field theory in dilute Bose gases, examining their impact on the superfluid–Mott insulator transition, quantum droplet formation, and critical phenomena. Beginning with the Gross–Pitaevskii mean-field framework , we systematically incorporate quantum corrections through Bogoliubov theory, yielding the Lee–Huang–Yang (LHY) energy correction scaling as . The quantum depletion quantifies the fraction of atoms driven from the condensate by zero-point fluctuations. For the Bose–Hubbard model , quantum Monte Carlo simulations establish the superfluid–Mott insulator critical point at , shifted 15% from the mean-field prediction. Critical exponents and confirm 3D XY universality. Quantum droplets in binary mixtures are stabilized by the repulsive LHY correction against mean-field collapse, with equilibrium densities matching experimental observations in K mixtures. Finite-size scaling analysis and the Ginzburg criterion delineate regimes where fluctuation effects dominate. All theoretical predictions are validated against precision measurements in ultracold atomic gases.
Identified as a unique regime of fluid flow some 500 years ago, turbulence has fascinated and confounded for centuries. Indeed, a fundamental understanding of the turbulence phenomenon remains one of the most important unsolved problems in classical physics. Interestingly, superfluid atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) can also be agitated into highly excited states of chaotic vortex motion, suggestive of turbulence. However, in contrast to classical fluids, the vortices in these quantum systems exhibit topological stability, the restriction of quantized circulation, and a well defined length scale characterized by the so-called healing length of the superfluid. Such simplifying aspects motivate the study of turbulence in these systems, which may shed new light on the longstanding classical problem. \n\nWhilst a considerable number of studies have been conducted on turbulence in three-dimensional BEC systems, and such studies have uncovered similarities between the classical and quantum counterparts, including the presence of the Kolmogorov k−5/3 law in the kinetic energy spectrum and the associated direct energy cascade, comparatively few studies have been conducted on two-dimensional quantum turbulence. An important question for such systems is whether the inverse energy cascade, a defining feature of classical two-dimensional turbulent fluid flows, may occur in these systems. In addition to a Kolmogorov kinetic energy spectrum, this process is signified by the clustering of same-circulation vortices, which results in the emergence of macroscopic vortex structures from the turbulent flow. \n\nAlthough intermittent few-vortex clustering has been observed in the break-down of superfluid flow around an obstacle, current attempts to observe a sustained inverse cascade have been unsuccessful, largely due to complications which arise due to the compressibility of the dilute Bose gas - a feature not considered in the classical theory.\n\nWe present a study of two-dimensional quantum turbulence in atomic BECs within the framework of damped Gross-Pitaevskii theory. With the motivation of determining the existence of the inverse cascade phenomenon in such systems, we focusing on experimentally realistic forcing procedures, and study the details of kinetic energy spectra, the statistics of vortex clustering, and the transport of kinetic energy through scale space in the resulting turbulent flows.\nWe investigate a range of vortex injection regimes produced through the circular stirring of a harmonically confined system with a repulsive Gaussian obstacle potential, identifying distinct regimes of turbulence. In the incompressible regime relevant to the inverse cascade, we identify numerous problems with the system and forcing procedure. Motivated by these findings, we investigate turbulence in a minimal model of the spindown of a toroidal persistent current. In this system, we identify a regime of forcing and damping in which the inverse cascade is corroborated by three independent measures: I) merging of vortex clusters; II) a Kolmogorov scaling in the incompressible kinetic energy spectrum; and III) Spectral condensation, associated with the emergence of large scale rotating structures from the turbulent flow. We provide clear evidence that the inverse cascade phenomenon, previously observed in a range of classical fluid systems, can also occur in quantum turbulence.