Symmetry and structure of quantized vortices in superfluid /sup 3/He-B
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), Vol. 31:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Quantized vortices in superfluid /sup 3/He
Vortices and NMR in rotating /sup 3/He-B
Related Subjects
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
HELIUM 3 B
VORTICES
FERROMAGNETISM
GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY
LANDAU LIQUID HELIUM THEORY
MAGNETIC MOMENTS
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
ORDER PARAMETERS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POLARIZATION
ROTATION
SYMMETRY
SYMMETRY BREAKING
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HELIUM 3
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MAGNETISM
MOTION
NUCLEI
RESONANCE
STABLE ISOTOPES
640450* - Fluid Physics- Superfluidity