Abstract
We have studied the interaction of metastable 4He2* excimer molecules with quantized vortices in superfluid 4He in the zero temperature limit. The vortices were generated by either rotation or ion injection. The trapping diameter of the molecules on quantized vortices was found to be 96±6 nm at a pressure of 0.1 bar and 27±5 nm at 5.0 bar. We have also demonstrated that a moving tangle of vortices can carry the molecules through the superfluid helium.
Highlights
We have studied the interaction of metastable 4HeÃ2 excimer molecules with quantized vortices in superfluid 4He in the zero temperature limit
A special case is the hydrodynamics of superfluid liquids in the limit of zero temperature [1], which, while behaving as an ideal fluid, has a quantum constraint: vorticity is concentrated along the filamentary cores of quantized vortex lines, and the velocity circulation around any such line is equal to 1⁄4 h=m4 1⁄4 1:00 Â 10À3 cm2 sÀ1
Mapping the field of vorticity, not velocity, has advantages for both the classical and quantum ranges of the quantum turbulence (QT) spectrum. Within the former, the regions of enhanced vorticity, i.e., those with an enhanced density of vortex lines, will be most visible. Within the latter, one will be able to observe such processes as vortex reconnections, Kelvin waves, and the emission and absorption of small vortex loops—which are believed to be responsible for the quantum cascade of energy and control the dissipation of the vortex tangle [3,4]
Summary
We have studied the interaction of metastable 4HeÃ2 excimer molecules with quantized vortices in superfluid 4He in the zero temperature limit. The trapping diameter of the molecules on quantized vortices was found to be 96 Æ 6 nm at a pressure of 0.1 bar and 27 Æ 5 nm at 5.0 bar.
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