Quantum vortex configurations in three dimensions

Journal Article · Mon Dec 16 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.3499· OSTI ID:6090671

Goldin, G A; Menikoff, R; Sharp, D H ^[1]

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1. Departments of Mathematics and Physics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903 (United States) Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)

We examine the kinematics of quantum vortex configurations in three-dimensional space for an ideal incompressible fluid. The permitted quantum configurations are shown to be {ital surfaces} of vorticity, characterized topologically not only by their knottedness, but also by additional global properties such as twists and holes. Our results, obtained by representing an infinite-dimensional group of diffeomorphisms, contradict conclusions reached by approximating the infinite-dimensional system with finitely many degrees of freedom.

• OSTI ID: 6090671
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 67:25; ISSN PRLTA; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

665000* -- Physics of Condensed Matter-- (1992-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
IDEAL FLOW
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW
INTEGRALS
LIE GROUPS
MATHEMATICAL SPACE
MATHEMATICS
PHASE SPACE
QUANTIZATION
SPACE
SYMMETRY GROUPS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TOPOLOGY
TUBES
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VORTICES