Superfluid Helium Research Articles

Observation of metastable structures of the ethylene glycol-water dimer in helium nanodroplets.

Ethylene glycol (EG) is the simplest organic diol. Here we measure infrared spectra of the EG monomer and its dimer with water, the complex, EG(H2O), embedded in superfluid helium nanodroplets. For the monomer, only a single, gauche, conformation is observed. For EG(H2O), no trace of the global energy minimum is seen, a structure that would maximize the hydrogen bonding contacts. Instead, only metastable structures are formed, suggesting that dimerization in a superfluid environment leads to kinetic trapping in local energy minima. In addition, we obtain evidence for a dimer where the conformation of EG switches from gauche to trans on account of dimerization with a water molecule. This observation is assumed to be driven over an energy barrier by utilizing the energy released as hydrogen bonding occurs.

Beyond Newtonian Gravitational Attraction: Superfluid Quantized Vortices and the Resolution of Bentley's Paradox

Beyond Newtonian Gravitational Attraction: Superfluid Quantized Vortices and the Resolution of Bentley's Paradox

Topological order and fractionalized excitations in quantum many-body systems

The Landau Fermi liquid theory and the Ginzburg-Landau phase transition theory stand as two pivotal cornerstones in traditional condensed matter physics, achieving significant success in addressing crucial physical phenomena such as BCS superconductors and liquid helium superfluids. However, marked by the discoveries of the quantum Hall effect and high-temperature superconductivity in the 1980s, it gradually became evident that for a broad class of novel quantum states, such as fractional quantum Hall states and quantum spin liquids, their properties transcend the Landau Fermi liquid theory and Ginzburg-Landau phase transition theory. Topological order and its related concepts of long-range many-body quantum entanglement and fractionalized excitation have become the key concepts to understand these exotic quantum states. Designing and identifying topologically ordered states of matter in quantum materials and quantum simulation systems, and probing and manipulating their fractionalized excitations, are important research directions in modern condensed matter physics. In recent years, great progress has been made in the quantum simulation and manipulation of topological order on highly controllable quantum simulation platforms, such as Rydberg atomic systems, superconducting quantum processors, and two-dimensional moiré superlattices. This article provides a brief overview of recent research advances and challenges in the study of topological order in traditional condensed matter systems and quantum simulation experimental platforms. It also provides prospects for the future developments of this field.

Nanoscale investigations of femtosecond laser induced nanogratings in optical glasses.

Femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation inside transparent materials has drawn considerable interest over the past two decades. More specifically, self-assembled nanogratings, induced by fs laser direct writing (FLDW) inside glass, enable a broad range of potential applications in optics, photonics, or microfluidics. In this work, a comprehensive study of nanogratings formed inside fused silica by FLDW is presented based on high-resolution electron microscopy imaging techniques. These nanoscale investigations reveal that the intrinsic structure of nanogratings is composed of oblate nanopores, shaped into nanoplanes, regularly spaced and oriented perpendicularly to the laser polarization. These nanoporous layers are forced-organized by light, resulting in a pseudo-organized spacing at the sub-wavelength scale, and observed in a wide range of optical glasses. In light of the current state of the art, we discuss the imprinting of nanoporous layers under thermomechanical effects induced by a plasma-mediated nanocavitation process.

Disassembly analysis of hot-melt adhesive in mechanical joints

The mechanical properties of a commercially available hot-melt adhesive (HMA) have been studied under different environmental and loading conditions. To date, disassembly analyses including triggering features, design parameters, and time have not been fully investigated in the literature. In this study, experimental parametric studies have been performed on single lap joints considering the geometric features of the joint and a combination of thermo-mechanical effects. Disassembly time has been assessed through experimental analysis, considering variations in geometry, the use of alternative heat sources and different load conditions. Use of a heat gun as the heat source was found to lead to the highest variation in disassembly time compared to a static climatic chamber (i.e., industrial oven). In relation to the joint geometry, the disassembly time was mostly affected by the overlap length rather than the type or thickness of the base material. The outcomes of this study will drive the design of adhesive joints in mechanical applications, providing design-for-disassembly guidelines for the development of reversible joints employing hot-melt adhesives.

A strain rate and temperature dependent model for describing nonlinear unloading stress-strain response after warm and hot compression deformation

For an accurate numerical simulation of springback behavior and control of shape and dimensional accuracies of the manufacture component under warm and hot precision plastic forming, the use of an appropriate material model dependent with strain, strain rate and temperature describing the nonlinear unloading process is vital, which is remained to be developed. The thermo-mechanical coupling effect in difficult-to-form material deformed at elevated temperature makes the unloading process more complicated and thus more difficult to model. In this paper, by using face-centered cubic (FCC) aluminum alloys as case study materials, loading-unloading experiments with different strains and strain rates at warm and elevated temperatures of 300 – 500 °C were conducted, the effects and contributions of strain, strain rate and temperature on unloading chord modulus (elastic modulus) and nonlinear unloading stress-strain response were quantified. A unique strain-, strain rate- and temperature-dependent nonlinear unloading coupled model was established. By validating and applying the nonlinear unloading coupled model in the both monotonous loading-unloading and cyclic loading-unloading warm and hot compression deformation, the calculation results agree well with experimental results, indicating that the model can describe perfectly the nonlinear unloading stress-strain responds and springback behavior. From the discussion on calculated results and capabilities of model, it was found that the proposed unified equation incorporating strain rate and temperature is also able to be coupled with the existing strain-dependent chord modulus model such as modified Yoshida-Uemori (Y-U) model. The capability of predicting nonlinear unloading curves and springback strains of aluminum alloys deformed at various strains, strain rates, and temperatures demonstrates the potential applicability of the model to a wide range of warm and hot forming process conditions.

Responses of the Nigerian low-latitude ionosphere to geomagnetic storms of the ascending and maximum phases of solar cycle 24

This study investigates the responses of the Nigerian ionosphere to thirteen geomagnetic storms that occurred during the ascending and maximum phases of the solar cycle 24. The Total Electron Content (TEC) data obtained from the Nigerian Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) network (NIGNET) were used.The ionosphere over Nigeria recorded marked diurnal TEC variations around 1100–1700 LT, with the most significant variations between 1400 and 1600 LT time period, and minimum variation at 0600 LT. Another cogent piece of information from this study is that the values of TEC and ionospheric irregularities at all the five GNSS stations under investigation consistently matched one another. The implication of this is that the values of TEC and irregularities, at both quiet time and storm time, at any location in Nigeria could be used as the representative values at any other locations in the country, particularly in areas where there are no GNSS systems. The equinoctial maxima and June solstice minima effects were clearly observed in our data. Furthermore, ionospheric irregularities occurrences also followed semiannual patterns with two peaks in April and October, and the least occurrences in June, and generally localized around 2000–0100 LT. At daytime during geomagnetic storms in the equatorial/low-latitude regions, Prompt Penetration Electric Field (PPEF) intensified forward plasma fountain effect, while at nighttime, the reversed plasma fountain effect returns plasma backward to cause the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) crests to contract, or totally coalesce the EIA structure to form a single strip of plasma density around the equator.

Two-dimensional Brownian motion of active particle on superfluid helium surface

We report an experimental study of the 2D dynamics of active particles driven by quantum vortices on the free surface of superfluid helium at T = 1.45 К. The particle motion at short times (< 25 ms) relates to anomalous diffusion mode typical for active particles, while for longer times it corresponds to normal diffusion mode. The values of the rotational and translational kinetic energies of the particle allow to determine for the first time the intensity of the particle-vortex interaction and the dissipation rate of the vortex bundle energy. Strong bonding between a particle and a vortex is explained by coupling of normal and superfluid components.

Free vibration analysis of FGM spherical and elliptical shells under nonlinear thermal environments

The thermo-mechanical effects of the free vibration of functionally graded (FG) spherical and elliptical shells under nonlinear temperature distributions (NTD) are investigated. The geometries of the FG spherical and elliptical shells are expressed in terms of the surface fundamental form, and the displacement function is derived based on higher-order shear deformation theory (HSDT). Temperature-dependent (TD) material and heat conduction are investigated based on Voigt's micromechanical model. The equation of motion of the thermo-elastic FG shells is formulated using the classical Hamilton's principle. Numerical results are obtained using the finite element method with quadrilateral Lagrangian isoparametric elements. A comparison of the results for the free vibration of FG shells based on the FSDT and HSDT approaches is presented. The first fundamental mode is the axisymmetric mode for the circular plate and oblate shell, but the results are otherwise for spherical and prolate shells. The torsional mode occurs in the seventh mode within the first ten vibrational modes for the prolate shell. In addition, the frequency parameter in the torsional mode is independent of the different support conditions. Parametric studies show that the non-dimensional frequency parameters of the FG shells decrease quickly, then slowly, as the volume fraction index increases. Finally, the frequency parameters decrease when the temperature at the top of the FG shell surface increases.

Generation of Quantum Vortices by Waves on the Surface of Superfluid Helium

The formation of quantum vortices by two mutually perpendicular waves excited on the surface of superfluid helium has been observed. The interaction of negative charges injected under the surface of He-II with the vortex flow of the liquid, which is formed by surface waves at frequencies from 20 to 49.9 Hz, in the temperature range of 1.5–2.17 K has been studied experimentally by analyzing the current distribution detected by vertically oriented segments of a receiving collector. The efficient capture of injected charges by quantum vortices has been observed at a temperature ofT= 1.5 K, which leads to a significant redistribution of currents between segments of the receiving collector. Charges leave traps on quantum vortices at temperatures nearT= 1.7 K. With a further increase in the temperature, injected charges are scattered on vortex flows of the normal component, which are generated by surface waves.

МАТЕМАТИЧНЕ МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ ВНУТРІШНЬОСТРУКТУРНИХ ТЕРМОНАПРУЖЕНЬ, ЩО ВИКЛИКАЮТЬСЯ ПОЛЯМИ ЗМІННОЇ ТЕМПЕРАТУРИ В КОМПОЗИТАХ ЗІ СТРИЖНЕВОЮ АРМАТУРОЮ

Introduction. Thermomechanical effects arising in heterogeneous composite materials under the influence of temperature significantly affect the strength and durability of structures made of them. These effects have a special influence on the thermal deformation of bridge and road structures under conditions of seasonal and daily changes in ambient temperature. They are caused by non-uniformity of the thermomechanical parameters of its fractions and fittings. Until now, the phenomenon of thermomechanical deformation of reinforced structures has not been sufficiently studied, therefore the tasks of their research are urgent. Problem Statement. The problem of the performed research is to establish the laws of thermomechanical deformation of composite materials (including cement concrete and asphalt concrete), which are reinforced with reinforcing rods, in the fields of variable temperatures. Purpose. The purpose of the work is to derive mathematical ratios that determine intrastructural thermal stresses in composites caused by variable temperature fields and heterogeneity of materials.

Characteristics of cavitating flows in cryogenic pump units in a combined cycle power system based on liquefied natural gas and solar energy

The cavitation of cryogenic pump units is an important cause for the low cold energy recovery efficiency and low utilization efficiency of solar energy in combined cycle power systems based on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and solar energy. Through numerical simulation of cavitation in cryogenic pump units, the research established the correlation mechanism between cavitation evolution and energy characteristics. By using the transport-based cavitation model considering the thermomechanical effect of cryogenic media, a novel numerical simulation model for two-phase flows during cryogenic cavitation was developed. In addition, the numerical model of cavitation was verified to be reliable. The cavitation performance of the two-stage LNG submerged pump in cryogenic pump units was studied under multiple conditions. In addition, the evolution of cavitating flow regimes under conditions of different flow rates and its influences on flow patterns of various flow passage components were investigated by combining analysis on temperature changes and flow fields. The entropy production diagnostic model (EPDM) was also adopted to discuss the distribution of the irreversible entropy production rate (EPR) in the evolution process of cavitation. Results show that the interfacial EPR that characterizes the phase-transition intensity after inception of cavitation exerts significant influences. Analysis of influencing mechanisms of changes in temperature, changes in flow fields, and distribution characteristics of energy consumption can provide a theoretical basis for further optimization.

Freeze range of a condensing gas propagating in a liquid helium-cooled tube

Understanding air propagation and condensation following a catastrophic vacuum break in particle accelerator beamlines cooled by liquid helium is crucial for maintaining the operational safety of these facilities. Previous experimental investigations on nitrogen gas propagation in both normal liquid helium (He I) and superfluid helium (He II) cooled copper tubes unveiled a nearly exponential deceleration of the gas propagation. A comprehensive theoretical model incorporating gas dynamics, heat transfer, and condensation mechanisms has been developed, which effectively reproduces various key experimental observations. An intriguing phenomenon uncovered in our model simulation is that the gas propagation appears to nearly stop beyond a certain distance from the location where condensation starts. We refer to this distance as the freeze range. In this paper, we present our systematic study of the freeze range at various inlet mass fluxes and tube diameters. We show that the results can be well described by a simple correlation. The underlying physical mechanism that supports this useful correlation is explained. Knowing the freeze range may allow accelerator engineers to develop protocols for controlling frost-layer contamination in the beamline tubes, which is of great practical importance.

Advantages of hybrid positron sources with granular converters

The interest in crystal effects and more precisely for channeling radiation in axially oriented crystals is underlined. An association of a photon radiator using a crystal followed by an amorphous converter may have advantages concerning heating considerations. Such a set of targets, known as a hybrid source has been already investigated and experimental results gathered at KEK are presented. As the heating load with the accompanying thermal stresses have to be studied, variants for the amorphous converter have been considered and also realized: these variants are using small spheres of high Z material, as tungsten: they are providing a better heat dissipation and lower thermo-mechanical effects, leading to better lifespan. These converters, granular, are described and compared to the bulk converters generally used. Their characteristics concerning the yield and the thermal load are analyzed. Experiments carried out at KEK with such converters provided results which are also related. Such granular targets can also be used in conventional sources.

U-net based vortex detection in Bose–Einstein condensates with automatic correction for manually mislabeled data

Quantum vortices in Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) are essential phenomena in condensed matter physics, and precisely locating their positions, especially the vortex core, is a precondition for studying their properties. With the rise of machine learning, there is a possibility to expedite the localization process and provide accurate predictions. However, traditional machine learning requires particular considerable amount of manual data annotation, leading to uncontrollable accuracy. In this paper, we utilize the U-Net method to detect vortex positions accurately at the pixel level and propose an Automatic Correction Labeling (ACL) approach to optimize the acquisition of data sets for vortex localization in BECs. This approach addresses inaccuracies in the labeled vortex positions and improves the accuracy of vortex localization, especially the vortex core positions, while enhancing the tolerance for human mislabeling. The main process involves Rough Labeling →\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\rightarrow $$\\end{document} Machine Learning →\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\rightarrow $$\\end{document} Probability Region Search →\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\rightarrow $$\\end{document} Data Relabeling →\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\rightarrow $$\\end{document} Machine Learning again. The objective of ACL is to secure more accurate labeled data for model retraining. Through vortex localization experiments conducted in a two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate, our results establish the following: 1. Even under conditions of biased and missing manual annotations, U-Net can still accurately locate vortex positions; 2. Vortices exhibit certain regularities, and training U-Net with a small number of samples yields excellent predictive consequences; 3. The machine learning vortex locator based on the ACL method effectively corrects errors in manually annotated data, significantly improving the model’s performance metrics, thus enhancing the precision and metrics of vortex localization. This substantial advancement in the application of machine learning in vortex localization provides an effective way for vortex dynamics localization. Furthermore, this method of obtaining more accurate positions of approximate human labels through machine learning offers new insights for machine learning in other types of image recognition problems.

Linear permanent magnet electrodynamic suspension system: Dynamic characteristics, magnetic-mechanical coupling and filed test

This study investigates the dynamic electromagnetic characteristics and thermo-mechanical coupling effect of the linear permanent magnet electrodynamic suspension system (PMEDS) via high-speed test rig. Besides, a physical prototype weighing 1.5 tons along with a 50-m linear copper guideway is developed and tested. Firstly, the topology structure along with fundamental operation model is introduced, followed by establishing the analytical model. Subsequently, a multi-functional test rig is utilized to experimentally determine its speed characteristics, lateral stability, and vertical vibration, while also validating the simulation and analytical models. Additionally, thermo-mechanical coupling analysis is conducted through co-simulation, experimentation and calculation to determine the dependence of temperature on the levitation and drag forces. Finally, a prototype vehicle integrated with auxiliary components, is fabricated and tested on a copper guideway. The vehicle is suspended freely via levitation force in the air above 30 mm, with tested suspension height generally aligning with dynamic simulation results.

Superfluid Helium Nased Ultracold Neutron Source for the PIK Reactor

Superfluid Helium Nased Ultracold Neutron Source for the PIK Reactor

Paul Harry Roberts. 13 September 1929—17 November 2022

Paul Roberts was a physicist and applied mathematician. He made important and often pioneering contributions in diverse research areas, but mainly with a fluid dynamic theme, which include rotating fluids, geophysical and astrophysical flows and superfluids. The cornerstone was magnetohydrodynamics with particular application to the geodynamo. His most notable achievement was the first three-dimensional self-consistent numerical geodynamo model, which built on the equations he had derived previously governing the Earth's core dynamics. His considerations included the role of thermal and compositional convection, and the inner core boundary layer (a mixed phase region). In addition to his remarkable illustration of magnetic field reversals, he applied his model to core–mantle coupling and variations in the length of the day. Paul investigated superfluid liquid helium on two fronts. He had a lifelong interest in Bose–Einstein condensates on the microscale governed by the nonlinear Schrodinger equation. His early work on the robust derivation of the mean-field Hall–Vinen–Bekharevic–Khalatnikov equations was far ahead of its time. Their importance and relevance was not appreciated until much later.

Heating Up Quadruply Quantized Vortices: Splitting Patterns and Dynamical Transitions

Heating Up Quadruply Quantized Vortices: Splitting Patterns and Dynamical Transitions

Real-time multi-physical system identification and virtual sensing for a lab-scale chemical stirred tank using parallel estimators

In the initial stages of developing a new chemical process, chemists usually use a lab-scale stirred tank to analyze the yield amount and study the mass balance. However, understanding the energy balance is challenging. Monitoring the energy balance requires separating device and process-related effects, which is time-consuming and requires insight into the dynamics of the device and process. As a result, most lab-scale studies often overlook it. A real-time multi-physical virtual sensing and system identification approach is proposed in this study to address this issue by estimating desired unknown electro-thermo-mechanical parameters, states, and disturbances. The estimated unknowns include heat transfer coefficients, motor temperature, stirring torque, and heat generation rate. For this aim, a multi-physical lumped model is developed, which covers the electro-thermal and electro-mechanical responses of the device, as well as the process-related thermo-mechanical effects. The model is decoupled, and three parallel extended Kalman filters are employed. The developed model, estimation procedure, and measurement system are implemented in two experimental examples, including a hydrogenation reaction and the reductive catalytic fractionation of biomass. Both cases use a low-cost data acquisition system designed and manufactured to perform the measurements in this research. Comparing the logged measurements with the estimated values indicates considerable agreement in both cases. Based on the results, decoupling the model and using parallel estimators make the tuning easier, improve observability, and reduce the estimation time.