Kolmogorov Turbulence in Low-Temperature Superflows

C. Nore; M. Abid; M. E. Brachet

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.3896

Kolmogorov Turbulence in Low-Temperature Superflows

C. Nore, M. Abid, and M. E. Brachet

Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 3896 – Published 19 May 1997

Abstract

Low-temperature decaying superfluid turbulence is studied using the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in the geometry of the Taylor-Green (TG) vortex flow with resolutions up to $512^{3}$ . The rate of (irreversible) kinetic energy transfer in the superfluid TG vortex is found to be comparable to that of the viscous TG vortex. At the moment of maximum dissipation, the energy spectrum of the superflow has an inertial range compatible with Kolmogorov's scaling. Physical-space visualizations show that the vorticity dynamics of the superflow is similar to that of the viscous flow, including vortex reconnection. The implications to experiments in low-temperature helium are discussed.

Received 11 December 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.3896

Authors & Affiliations

C. Nore¹, M. Abid², and M. E. Brachet¹

¹Laboratoire de Physique Statistique de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, associé au CNRS et aux Universités Paris 6 et 7, 24 Rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
²Institut de Recherche sur les Phénomènes Hors Equilibre, UMR CNRS et Université d'Aix-Marseille I, service 252, Centre St-Jérôme, 13397 Marseille Cedex 20, France