Vortex sheet in superfluid {sup 3}He-A

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Journal of Low Temperature Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754569· OSTI ID:198164

Thuneberg, E V ^[1]

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1. Helsinki Univ. of Technology (Finland)

A new state of rotating superfluid {sup 3}He-A has been found recently. Usually superfluids respond to rotation by creating an array of vortex lines, which are parallel to the rotation axis, and the circulation around them is quantized. In the new state the vorticity is located on a 2 dimensional sheet instead of 1 D lines. The sheet is parallel to the rotation axis z but in the x - y plane it folds to equidistant layers. The distance between the layers is larger but on the same order of magnitude as the distance between vortex lines. In contrast to other superfluids, the sheet is stable in the A phase because, of its internal structure. The sheet has as a backbone a topologically stable domain wall called soliton, to which non-singular vorticity is bound. Thus it can exist in spite of its presumably higher energy. The vortex sheet is distinguished by its NMR response, in particular because of its higher absorption at a characteristic frequency. Experiment and theory on the vortex sheet are in good agreement.

• OSTI ID: 198164
• Report Number(s): CONF-950676--
• Journal Information: Journal of Low Temperature Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Low Temperature Physics Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 101; ISSN JLTPAC; ISSN 0022-2291
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
HELIUM 3 A
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
SUPERFLUIDITY
VORTEX FLOW