Vortex reconnection in superfluid helium

Joel Koplik and Herbert Levine
Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 1375 – Published 30 August 1993
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

A useful physical model for superfluid turbulence considers the flow to consist of a dense tangle of vortex lines which evolve and interact. It has been suggested that these vortex lines can dynamically reconnect upon close approach. Here, we consider the nonlinear Schrödinger equation model of superfluid quantum mechanics, and use numerical simulation to study this topology changing core-scale process. Our results support the idea that vortex reconnection will occur whenever filaments come within a few core lengths of one another.

  • Received 16 February 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.1375

©1993 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Joel Koplik

  • Benjamin Levich Institute and Department of Physics, City College of New York, New York, New York 10031

Herbert Levine

  • Department of Physics and Institute for Nonlinear Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0402

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 71, Iss. 9 — 30 August 1993

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×