Strong quantum turbulence in Bose-Einstein condensates
H. A. J. Middleton-Spencer, Arnol Daniel Garcia Orozco, Luca Galantucci, Michelle A. Moreno-Armijos, Nicholas G. Parker, L. A. Machado, Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato, C. F. Barenghi
By combining experiments and numerical simulations which model the dynamics of shaken atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, we reveal the surprising nature of quantum turbulence in these systems. Unlike the tangles of vortex lines described in the superfluid helium literature, we find that our turbulent atomic condensate contains a mixture of strong fragmented density fluctuations and small random vortex loops which are not homogeneously distributed. This unusual form of turbulence, with its own properties and scaling behavior, which we call strong quantum turbulence, is significantly different from the turbulence which is observed in either classical or other quantum systems, thus posing a new challenge in turbulence research.
By combining experiments and numerical simulations which model the dynamics of shaken atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, we reveal the surprising nature of quantum turbulence in these systems. Unlike the tangles of vortex lines described in the superfluid helium literature, we find that our turbulent atomic condensate contains a mixture of strong fragmented density fluctuations and small random vortex loops which are not homogeneously distributed. This unusual form of turbulence, with its own properties and scaling behavior, which we call strong quantum turbulence, is significantly different from the turbulence which is observed in either classical or other quantum systems, thus posing a new challenge in turbulence research.
By combining experiments and numerical simulations which model the dynamics of shaken atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, we reveal the surprising nature of quantum turbulence in these systems. Unlike the tangles of vortex lines described in the superfluid helium literature, we find that our turbulent atomic condensate contains a mixture of strong fragmented density fluctuations and small random vortex loops which are not homogeneously distributed. This unusual form of turbulence, with its own properties and scaling behaviour, which we call strong quantum turbulence, is significantly different from the turbulence which is observed in either classical or other quantum systems, thus posing a new challenge in turbulence research.
We numerically model turbulence in a trapped atomic Bose-Einstein condensate by solving the Gross-Pitaevskii nonlinear Schroedinger equation. We find that, after an initial growth, the vortex length decays approximately as t(-1) where t is time, consistent with experiments in turbulent superfluid helium, and that the velocity components obey power-law statistics, again in agreement with observations in turbulent superfluid helium. We find the same statistics, which contrasts to the Gaussian statistics observed in ordinary classical turbulence, in a variety of quantum fluids in two and three dimensions (trapped condensates, homogeneous condensates, vortex points, vortex filaments). We argue that the non-Gaussianity arises from the singular nature of quantised vorticity.
Abstract Chapter 5 delves into quantum turbulence in superfluid helium and atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). The foundation of quantum turbulence research lies in classical fluid dynamics and turbulence, which is why we begin by covering essential concepts like the Reynolds number and Kolmogorov’s -5/3 power law in the energy spectrum. These principles are crucial for understanding quantum turbulence. We then explore the shared aspects of quantum turbulence in superfluid helium and atomic BECs, such as the differences in vortex configurations compared to classical turbulence, energy spectra, cascades, and the distinction between quasiclassical (Kolmogorov) and ultraquantum (Vinen) turbulence, focusing on their decay behaviors. In superfluid helium, we emphasize experimental studies in thermal counterflow and numerical simulations using the Vortex Filament Model (VFM). The advent of visualization experiments in the mid-2000s was transformative, allowing the observation of normal fluid velocity profiles and accelerations via tracer particles, which led to more accurate simulations coupling the VFM with normal fluid dynamics. Another significant topic is the energy spectrum of quantum turbulence, and whether it mirrors classical turbulence remains a key question. In addition to thermal counterflow, localized quantum turbulence generated by oscillating objects has been a major area of study. We present research showing how quantized vortices grow and evolve into turbulence. Superfluid 3He-B also provides a platform for quantum turbulence, with advancements in microfabrication bringing MEMS and NEMS into focus for studying quantum hydrodynamics at micro- and nanoscale, influenced by boundary conditions. In atomic BECs, confined by potentials, turbulence is induced through techniques like shaking or moving potentials. A unique aspect of BECs is two-dimensional quantum turbulence, featuring inverse energy cascades, Onsager vortices, and negative temperature states. Finally, atomic BECs, being compressible, serve as a platform for both vortex and wave turbulence. Multicomponent BECs, such as spinor BECs, introduce spin turbulence, further diversifying the field.
Quantum turbulence is recently one of the most important topics in low temperature physics. Physics of quantum turbulence and quantized vortices have been studied chiefly in superfluid helium. The realization of atomic Bose-Einstein condensation has allowed us to study quantized vortives in the fascinating systems too. Generally there are two kinds of cooperative phenomena comprised of quantized vortices, from the research history of superfluid helium. Lots of studies in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are devoted mainly to the issues of vortex lattices under rotation. However, another important state on quantized vortices, namely quantum turbulence, has been never studied in atomic BECs. In this work, we address for the first time quantum turbulence in atomic BECs theoretically and numerically. After reviewing shortly the recent developments on quantum turbulecne, we propose how to make quantum turbulence in a trapped BEC by combining rotation around two axes, and confirm the Kolmogorov spectra by the Gross-Pitaevskii model.
Turbulence, the complicated fluid behavior of nonlinear and statistical nature, arises in many physical systems across various disciplines, from tiny laboratory scales to geophysical and astrophysical ones. The notion of turbulence in the quantum world was conceived long ago by Onsager and Feynman, but the occurrence of turbulence in ultracold gases has been studied in the laboratory only very recently. Albeit new as a field, it already offers new paths and perspectives on the problem of turbulence. Herein we review the general properties of quantum gases at ultralow temperatures paying particular attention to vortices, their dynamics and turbulent behavior. We review the recent advances both from theory and experiment. We highlight, moreover, the difficulties of identifying and characterizing turbulence in gaseous Bose Einstein condensates compared to ordinary turbulence and turbulence in superfluid liquid helium and spotlight future possible directions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.