Nanoscale Real-Time Detection of Quantum Vortices at Millikelvin Temperatures

Abstract

Since we still lack a theory of classical turbulence, attention has focused on the conceptually simpler turbulence in quantum fluids. Can such systems of identical singly-quantized vortices provide a physically accessible "toy model" of the classical counterpart? That said, we have hitherto lacked detectors capable of the real-time, non-invasive probing of the wide range of length scales involved in quantum turbulence. However, we demonstrate here the real-time detection of quantum vortices by a nanoscale resonant beam in superfluid ${}^4$He at 10 mK. The basic idea is that we can trap a single vortex along the length of a nanobeam and observe the transitions as a vortex is either trapped or released, which we observe through the shift in the resonant frequency of the beam. With a tuning fork source, we can control the ambient vorticity density and follow its influence on the vortex capture and release rates. But, most important, we show that these devices are capable of probing turbulence on the micron scale.

References in corpus (11)

• Quartz Tuning Fork: Thermometer, Pressure- and Viscometer for Helium Liquids
• Characterization of reconnecting vortices in superfluid helium
• Crossover from interaction to driven regimes in quantum vortex reconnections
• The Intermodulation Lockin Analyzer
• Universal Critical Velocity for the Onset of Turbulence of Oscillatory Superfluid Flow
• Operating Nanobeams in a Quantum Fluid
• Probing superfluid ${}^4\mathrm{He}$ with high-frequency nanomechanical resonators down to $\mathrm{mK}$ temperatures
• Energy Loss from a Moving Vortex in Superfluid Helium
• Detecting the "phonon wind" in superfluid ${}^4\mathrm{He}$ by a nanomechanical resonator
• Phonon coupling between a nanomechanical resonator and a quantum fluid
• Statistical laws and self-similarity of vortex rings emitted from a localized vortex tangle in superfluid ${}^4$He

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Mesoscopic physics of nanomechanical systems
• Dimensional control of tunneling two level systems in nanoelectromechanical resonators
• Detection of Quantized Vortices using Fourth Sound Attenuation
• Superfluid ${}^4$He as a rigorous test bench for different damping models in nanoelectromechanical resonators
• Dynamics of pinned quantized vortices in superfluid ${}^4$He in a microelectromechanical oscillator
• Fully suspended nano-beams for quantum fluids
• Controlled generation of 3D vortices in driven atomic Josephson junctions
• Aluminum goalpost nano-mechanical devices at low temperatures