Study Provides Experimental Evidence of the Features of Superfluid Helium

This “supercooled” helium is an example of a Bose-Einstein condensation, where the waves portraying the atoms overlap until the fluid behaves almost like a single particle. Since the transition to a superfluid in helium-4 occurs at relatively low temperatures, this method has no classical analog and is a useful system for evaluating quantum mechanics theories. However, the possibility to visualize the motion of the superfluid is still required.

Recently a group of scientists headed by Osaka University used silicon nanoparticles to help visualize the properties of superfluid helium, similar to how throwing pebbles helps visualize the flow of water in a waterfall.

We were able to provide direct experimental evidence that dense silicon nanoparticles are attracted to quantized vortices, and stabilize along the vortex core.

Yosuke Minowa, Study First Author, Osaka University

One of the unique properties of superfluid helium is that any rotational motion can occur only in the form of quantized vortices. These are small, discrete whirlpools with a fixed amount of angular momentum in each one. The researchers explored the process of vortex reconnection, in which lines of vortices coalesce and swap parts, using nanoparticles. The vortex lines were clearly visible due to light scattering from the nanoparticles.

Our proposed technique enables us to use many different materials as tracer particles of quantized vortices.

Yosuke Minowa, Study First Author, Osaka University

Quantized vortices in superfluid helium could help researchers understand more exoteric quantum systems, like the critical current in high-temperature superconductors.

Journal Reference:

Minowa, Y., et al. (2022) Visualization of quantized vortex reconnection enabled by laser ablation. Science Advances. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abn1143.