Quantum Turbulence: Where Do We Go From Here?

Abstract

It is now 50 years since the discovery of turbulence in the superfluid component of liquid 4He, a form of turbulence that is strongly influenced by quantum effects and therefore often described as quantum turbulence. Early work focussed on turbulence associated with thermal counterflow in 4He. The pioneering computer simulations of Schwarz led to considerable understanding of this type of turbulence, which has no classical analogue, but important aspects of it, both experimental and computational, remain unexplored. More recently, attention has turned to types of quantum turbulence, in both 4He and 3He‐B, that have classical analogues, investigations (experimental, theoretical and computational) serving to emphasize similarities and differences between the classical and quantum cases and serving therefore to add to our understanding of both cases. It will be argued that progress is now hampered by the shortage of experimental techniques with which to probe quantum turbulence over a wide temperature range in the kind of detail possible in the classical case, and proposals are explored for addressing this shortage.