Quantum Buckling

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum vortices in a superfluid-coated membrane induce buckling and negative conical singularities, revealing a quantum-specific instability mechanism distinct from classical elasticity.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework linking quantum vortex defects to membrane buckling, deriving conditions for instability and confirming membrane shapes analytically and numerically.

Findings

Quantum vortices cause negative conical singularities in membrane geometry.

A dimensionless ratio predicts the onset of quantum buckling instability.

Analytical and numerical models confirm the predicted membrane shapes.

Abstract

We study the mechanical buckling of a two dimensional membrane coated with a thin layer of superfluid. It is seen that a singularity (vortex or anti-vortex defect) in the phase of the quantum order parameter, distorts the membrane metric into a negative conical singularity surface, irrespective of the defect sign. The defect-curvature coupling and the observed instability is in striking contrast with classical elasticity where, the in-plane strain induced by positive (negative) disclinations is screened by a corresponding positive (negative) conical singularity surface. Defining a dimensionless ratio between superfluid stiffness and membrane bending modulus, we derive conditions under which the quantum buckling instability occurs. An ansatz for the resulting shape of the buckled membrane is analytically and numerically confirmed.