Turbulence in Binary Bose-Einstein Condensates Generated by Highly Non-Linear Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz Instabilities

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum turbulence in binary Bose-Einstein condensates caused by Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities, revealing unique properties and classical turbulence relations at ultracold temperatures.

Contribution

It presents a theoretical study showing QT generated at low Mach numbers with Kolmogorov scaling, distinct vortex tangles, and potential laboratory observability.

Findings

Quantum vortex tangle differs from other superfluids.

QT can be generated at arbitrarily small Mach numbers.

Kolmogorov scaling law holds for incompressible kinetic energy.

Abstract

Quantum turbulence (QT) generated by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in binary immiscible ultracold 87Rb atoms at zero temperature is studied theoretically. We show that the quantum vortex tangle is qualitatively different from previously considered superfluids, which reveals deep relations between QT and classical turbulence. The present QT may be generated at arbitrarily small Mach numbers, which is a unique property not found in previously studied superfluids. By numerical solution of the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations we find that the Kolmogorov scaling law holds for the incompressible kinetic energy. We demonstrate that the phenomenon may be observed in the laboratory.