Observation of the spiral flow and vortex induced by a suction pump in superfluid 4He
Abstract
A suction flow generates a whirlpool, namely a bathtub vortex, in a classical fluid; in contrast, rotating containers, which are usually used for studies of superfluid helium, can produce only simple solid rotation. In the present work, the superfluid flow and concentrated quantized vortices induced by a cryogenic motor immersed in superfluid 4He were investigated. Using a motor with six blades in a cylinder caused the free surface of the superfluid 4He to take on a parabolic shape, indicating that the motor produces a rotating superfluid flow. To drive a suction flow in superfluid helium, the motor was mounted in a cylindrical container with a small hole at the center of the top and a slit at the side, acting as a superfluid pump. This pump was successfully used to generate a spiral flow and a vortex with a funnel-shaped core in superfluid 4He, suggesting that the resulting suction flow transports and centralizes quantized vortices to the suction hole, increasing the vortex circulation and sucking the free surface of the superfluid down.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Physics Conference Series
- Pub Date:
- March 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1088/1742-6596/969/1/012002
- Bibcode:
- 2018JPhCS.969a2002Y