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Observation of Bistable Turbulence in Quasi-Two-Dimensional Superflow

E. Varga, V. Vadakkumbatt, A. J. Shook, P. H. Kim, and J. P. Davis
Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 025301 – Published 7 July 2020
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Abstract

Turbulent flow restricted to two dimensions can spontaneously develop order on large scales, defying entropy expectations and in sharp contrast with turbulence in three dimensions where nonlinear turbulent processes act to destroy large-scale order. In this work we report the observation of unusual turbulent behavior in steady-state flow of superfluid He4—a liquid with vanishing viscosity and discrete vorticity—in a nearly two-dimensional channel. Surprisingly, for a range of experimental parameters, turbulence is observed to exist in two bistable states. This bistability can be well explained by the appearance of large-scale regions of flow of opposite vorticity.

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  • Received 14 February 2020
  • Revised 15 April 2020
  • Accepted 2 June 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.025301

© 2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied PhysicsFluid Dynamics

Authors & Affiliations

E. Varga*, V. Vadakkumbatt, A. J. Shook, P. H. Kim, and J. P. Davis

  • Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada

  • *ev@ualberta.ca
  • jdavis@ualberta.ca

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Issue

Vol. 125, Iss. 2 — 10 July 2020

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