Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review B

Collision of a tracer particle and a quantized vortex in superfluid helium: Self-consistent calculations

Demosthenes Kivotides, Carlo F. Barenghi, Yu. A. Sergeev

Published Jun 7, 2007• 32 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Recent experiments have shown that micron-size particles can be trapped in quantized vortices in superfluid helium. We present results of a dynamically self-consistent calculation of the nonlinear interaction of a sphere and a vortex. We find that, depending on the regime, the sphere can be trapped in the vortex or break free from it. We also find that, if trapped, the sphere can travel along the vortex. We analyze the role played by the various forces acting on the sphere during the interaction.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.75.212502

Related papers

Motion of vortex ring with tracer particles in superfluid helium

Carlo F. Barenghi, Yu. A. Sergeev

Recent experiments on quantum turbulence in superfluid helium made use of small tracer particles to track the motion of quantized vortices, determine velocity statistics and visualize vortex reconnections. A problem with this visualization technique is that it may change the turbulent flow which it visualizes. To address this problem, we derive and solve the equations of motion of a quantized vortex ring which contains a given number of particles trapped on the vortex core, hence derive a quantitative criterion to determine in which measure small particles trapped in quantized vortices affect vortex motion. Finally we apply the criterion to a recent experiment.

arXiv:0905.4797•Physical Review B•Jul 23, 2009•15 citations

The Decay of a Quantized Vortex Ring and the Influence of Tracer Particles

Gregory P. Bewley, K. R. Sreenivasan

We capture the decay of a quantized vortex ring in superfluid helium-4 by imaging particles trapped on the vortex core. The ring shrinks in time, providing direct evidence for the dissipation of energy in the superfluid. The ring with trapped particles collapses more slowly than predicted by an available theory, but the collapse rate can be predicted correctly if the trapping of the particles on the core is taken into account. We theoretically explore the conditions under which particles may be considered passive tracers of quantized vortices and estimate, in particular, that their dynamics on the large-scale is largely unaffected by the burden of trapped particles if the latter are spaced by more than ten particle diameters along the vortex core, at temperatures between 1.5 K and 2.1 K.

Journal of Low Temperature Physics•Jul 8, 2009•35 citations

Magnus-force model for active particles trapped on superfluid vortices

Adam Griffin, Vishwanath Shukla, Marc Brächet +1 more

Experimentalists use particles as tracers in liquid helium. The intrusive effects of particles on the dynamics of vortices remain poorly understood. We implement a study of how basic, well understood vortex states, such as a propagating pair of oppositely signed vortices, change in the presence of particles by using a simple model based on the Magnus force. We focus on the two-dimensional case, and compare the analytic and semianalytic models with simulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation with particles modeled by dynamic external potentials. The results confirm that the Magnus force model is an effective way to approximate vortex-particle motion either with closed-form simplified solutions or with a more accurate numerically solvable ordinary differential equations. Furthermore, we increase the complexity of the vortex states and show that the suggested semianalytical model remains robust in capturing the dynamics observed in the GP simulations.

Physical Review A•May 1, 2020•31 citations

Creation of Quantized Vortex Rings in Superfluid Helium

George Gamota

We have produced and observed quantized vortex rings emitted from orifices when superfluid helium is forced through channels at critical velocity. The vortices are identified by measuring their velocity and size, and are found to be in the $n=1$ quantum state.

Physical Review Letters•Aug 20, 1973•33 citations

QUANTIZED VORTICES IN SUPERFLUIDS AND SUPERCONDUCTORS

D. J. Thouless, Ping Ao, Qian Niu +2 more

We give a general review of recent developments in the theory of vortices in superfluids and superconductors, discussing why the dynamics of vortices is important, and why some key results are still controversial. We discuss work that we have done on the dynamics of quantized vortices in a superfluid. Despite the fact that this problem has been recognized as important for forty years, there is still a lot of controversy about the forces on and masses of quantized vortices. We think that one can get unambiguous answers by considering a broken symmetry state that consists of one vortex in an infinite ideal system. We argue for a Magnus force that is proportional to the superfluid density, and we find that the effective mass density of a vortex in a neutral superfluid is divergent at low frequencies. We have generalized some of the results for a neutral superfluid to a charged system.

arXiv:cond-mat/9709127•International Journal of Modern Physics B•Mar 10, 1999•13 citations

Inelastic scattering of xenon atoms by quantized vortices in superfluids

Ivan A. Pshenichnyuk, Natalia G. Berloff

We study inelastic interactions of particles with quantized vortices in superfluids by using a semiclassical matter wave theory that is analogous to the Landau two-fluid equations, but allows for the vortex dynamics. The research is motivated by recent experiments on xenon-doped helium nanodroplets that show clustering of the impurities along the vortex cores. We numerically simulate the dynamics of trapping and interactions of xenon atoms by quantized vortices in superfluid helium and the obtained results can be extended to scattering of other impurities by quantized vortices. Different energies and impact parameters of incident particles are considered. We show that inelastic scattering is closely linked to the generation of Kelvin waves along a quantized vortex during the interaction even if there is no capture. The capture criterion of an impurity is formulated in terms of the binding energy.

arXiv:1608.04157•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Nov 15, 2016•18 citations
Recent experiments have shown that micron-size particles can be trapped in quantized vortices in superfluid helium. We present results of a dynamically self-consistent calculation of the nonlinear interaction of a sphere and a vortex. We find that, depending on the regime, the sphere can be trapped in the vortex or break free from it. We also find that, if trapped, the sphere can travel along the vortex. We analyze the role played by the various forces acting on the sphere during the interaction.
Recent experiments on quantum turbulence in superfluid helium made use of small tracer particles to track the motion of quantized vortices, determine velocity statistics and visualize vortex reconnections. A problem with this visualization technique is that it may change the turbulent flow which it visualizes. To address this problem, we derive and solve the equations of motion of a quantized vortex ring which contains a given number of particles trapped on the vortex core, hence derive a quantitative criterion to determine in which measure small particles trapped in quantized vortices affect vortex motion. Finally we apply the criterion to a recent experiment.
We capture the decay of a quantized vortex ring in superfluid helium-4 by imaging particles trapped on the vortex core. The ring shrinks in time, providing direct evidence for the dissipation of energy in the superfluid. The ring with trapped particles collapses more slowly than predicted by an available theory, but the collapse rate can be predicted correctly if the trapping of the particles on the core is taken into account. We theoretically explore the conditions under which particles may be considered passive tracers of quantized vortices and estimate, in particular, that their dynamics on the large-scale is largely unaffected by the burden of trapped particles if the latter are spaced by more than ten particle diameters along the vortex core, at temperatures between 1.5 K and 2.1 K.
Experimentalists use particles as tracers in liquid helium. The intrusive effects of particles on the dynamics of vortices remain poorly understood. We implement a study of how basic, well understood vortex states, such as a propagating pair of oppositely signed vortices, change in the presence of particles by using a simple model based on the Magnus force. We focus on the two-dimensional case, and compare the analytic and semianalytic models with simulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation with particles modeled by dynamic external potentials. The results confirm that the Magnus force model is an effective way to approximate vortex-particle motion either with closed-form simplified solutions or with a more accurate numerically solvable ordinary differential equations. Furthermore, we increase the complexity of the vortex states and show that the suggested semianalytical model remains robust in capturing the dynamics observed in the GP simulations.
We have produced and observed quantized vortex rings emitted from orifices when superfluid helium is forced through channels at critical velocity. The vortices are identified by measuring their velocity and size, and are found to be in the n=1n=1n=1 quantum state.
We give a general review of recent developments in the theory of vortices in superfluids and superconductors, discussing why the dynamics of vortices is important, and why some key results are still controversial. We discuss work that we have done on the dynamics of quantized vortices in a superfluid. Despite the fact that this problem has been recognized as important for forty years, there is still a lot of controversy about the forces on and masses of quantized vortices. We think that one can get unambiguous answers by considering a broken symmetry state that consists of one vortex in an infinite ideal system. We argue for a Magnus force that is proportional to the superfluid density, and we find that the effective mass density of a vortex in a neutral superfluid is divergent at low frequencies. We have generalized some of the results for a neutral superfluid to a charged system.
We study inelastic interactions of particles with quantized vortices in superfluids by using a semiclassical matter wave theory that is analogous to the Landau two-fluid equations, but allows for the vortex dynamics. The research is motivated by recent experiments on xenon-doped helium nanodroplets that show clustering of the impurities along the vortex cores. We numerically simulate the dynamics of trapping and interactions of xenon atoms by quantized vortices in superfluid helium and the obtained results can be extended to scattering of other impurities by quantized vortices. Different energies and impact parameters of incident particles are considered. We show that inelastic scattering is closely linked to the generation of Kelvin waves along a quantized vortex during the interaction even if there is no capture. The capture criterion of an impurity is formulated in terms of the binding energy.