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Title: Intrinsic fluctuations of the vortex-line density in superfluid turbulence

Abstract

We present a comprehensive experimental study of the intrinsic fluctuations associated with superfluid turbulence. Fluctuations in the chemical potential and temperature difference for He II thermal counterflow in a small-diameter tube become extremely large at the T-I--T-II transition. This result is in qualitative agreement with a simple dynamical model of a transcritical bifurcation. The fluctuations in the fully developed T-II state are smaller than 0.1%, in accord with computer simulations of fluctuations in homogeneous superfluid turbulence. Consistent measurements of the power spectra, power amplitude, relaxation time, and steady-state vortex-line density are presented. Our results are in substantial disagreement with previous measurements of fluctuations in superfluid turbulence. We suggest that the major discrepancy is due to unexpectedly large-amplitude fluctuations generated by macroscopic inhomogeneities in the vortex-line density present in the earlier experiments. Evidence from a variety of experiments, including our own measurements of externally driven fluctuations, supports this interpretation.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1106
OSTI Identifier:
6772059
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 35:7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; HELIUM II; TURBULENCE; FLUCTUATIONS; TUBES; VORTICES; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FLUIDS; HELIUM 4; HELIUM ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; LIGHT NUCLEI; NUCLEI; QUANTUM FLUIDS; STABLE ISOTOPES; VARIATIONS; 640450* - Fluid Physics- Superfluidity

Citation Formats

Griswold, D, Lorenson, C P, and Tough, J T. Intrinsic fluctuations of the vortex-line density in superfluid turbulence. United States: N. p., 1987. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.35.3149.
Griswold, D, Lorenson, C P, & Tough, J T. Intrinsic fluctuations of the vortex-line density in superfluid turbulence. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.35.3149
Griswold, D, Lorenson, C P, and Tough, J T. 1987. "Intrinsic fluctuations of the vortex-line density in superfluid turbulence". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.35.3149.
@article{osti_6772059,
title = {Intrinsic fluctuations of the vortex-line density in superfluid turbulence},
author = {Griswold, D and Lorenson, C P and Tough, J T},
abstractNote = {We present a comprehensive experimental study of the intrinsic fluctuations associated with superfluid turbulence. Fluctuations in the chemical potential and temperature difference for He II thermal counterflow in a small-diameter tube become extremely large at the T-I--T-II transition. This result is in qualitative agreement with a simple dynamical model of a transcritical bifurcation. The fluctuations in the fully developed T-II state are smaller than 0.1%, in accord with computer simulations of fluctuations in homogeneous superfluid turbulence. Consistent measurements of the power spectra, power amplitude, relaxation time, and steady-state vortex-line density are presented. Our results are in substantial disagreement with previous measurements of fluctuations in superfluid turbulence. We suggest that the major discrepancy is due to unexpectedly large-amplitude fluctuations generated by macroscopic inhomogeneities in the vortex-line density present in the earlier experiments. Evidence from a variety of experiments, including our own measurements of externally driven fluctuations, supports this interpretation.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.35.3149},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6772059}, journal = {Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 35:7,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1987},
month = {Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1987}
}