Symmetry and structure of quantized vortices in superfluid /sup 3/He-B

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.31.203· OSTI ID:6212441

Salomaa, M M; Volovik, G E

We present a symmetry classification for the vortices in superfluid /sup 3/He. We find that in superfluid /sup 3/He-B there may exist five different singly quantized axially symmetric vortex lines, which are different from each other in their internal discrete symmetries. A phenomenological Landau theory is constructed for all the possible phase transitions between the singly quantized axisymmetric vortices. Our detailed numerical calculations of the vortex core structure in the Ginzburg-Landau regime show that the vortex with minimum free energy, the one that we have identified with the vortex actually observed near T/sub c/ in the NMR experiments on rotating /sup 3/He-B, possesses a novel new structure: The discrete broken symmetry in this vortex is space parity P; the vortex has a superfluid core with the A phase and a spontaneously ferromagnetic ..beta.. phase, which is not known to occur in bulk /sup 3/He. This core structure explains the measured large magnetic moment of the vortex, and also the orienting effect of the vortices on the /sup 3/He-B order parameter in the rotating superfluid through the susceptibility anisotropy. For this superfluid core vortex we find that there exist nodes in the /sup 3/He quasiparticle energy gap inside a finite radius from the vortex axis. We define the distance: two to three Ginzburg-Landau coherence lengths: at which the nodes first appear as the core radius of the B-phase vortex. Physical properties of vortices with broken symmetry are discussed: The vortices may display a spontaneous electric polarization and/or a spontaneous axial supercurrent, depending on the symmetry of the vortex core matter.

• Research Organization: Low Temperature Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology, SF-02150 Espoo 15, Finland
• OSTI ID: 6212441
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 31:1; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640450* -- Fluid Physics-- Superfluidity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERROMAGNETISM
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY
HELIUM 3
HELIUM 3 B
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LANDAU LIQUID HELIUM THEORY
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MAGNETISM
MOTION
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NUCLEI
ORDER PARAMETERS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POLARIZATION
RESONANCE
ROTATION
STABLE ISOTOPES
SYMMETRY
SYMMETRY BREAKING
VORTICES