Numerical study of superfluid turbulence in the self-induction approximation

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · J. Comput. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9991(88)90145-3· OSTI ID:6967036

Buttke, T F

Two stable numerical methods are presented to solve the self-induction equation of vortex theory. These numerical methods are validated by comparison with known exact solutions. A new self-similar solution of the self-induction equation is presented and the approximate solutions are shown to converge to the exact solution for the self-similar solution. The numerical method is then generalized to solve the equations of motion of a superfluid vortex in the self-induction approximation where reconnection is allowed. A careful numerical study shows that the mesh spacing of the method must be restricted so that the approximate solutions are accurate. The line length density of a system of superfluid vortices is calculated. Contrary to earlier results it is found that the line length density produced does not scale as the velocity squared and therefore is not characteristic of homogeneous turbulence. It is concluded that the model equationn used is inadequate to describe superfluid turbulence. copyright 1988 Academic Press, Inc.

• Research Organization: Department of Mathematics and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720
• OSTI ID: 6967036
• Journal Information: J. Comput. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Comput. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 76:2; ISSN JCTPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640450* -- Fluid Physics-- Superfluidity
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
DATA
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
FLUID FLOW
HELIUM 3
HELIUM 3 A
HELIUM ISOTOPES
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
ITERATIVE METHODS
LIGHT NUCLEI
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
SCHROEDINGER EQUATION
STABLE ISOTOPES
SUPERFLUIDITY
TURBULENT FLOW
VORTEX FLOW
VORTICES
WAVE EQUATIONS