Spontaneous generation of quantum turbulence through the decay of a giant vortex in a two-dimensional superfluid

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the spontaneous generation of two-dimensional quantum turbulence in a Bose-Einstein condensate via giant vortex decay, revealing energy spectra consistent with classical turbulence laws and suggesting new experimental avenues.

Contribution

It provides the first simulation-based evidence of quantum turbulence arising from giant vortex decay in 2D superfluids, linking quantum and classical turbulence spectra.

Findings

Energy spectra show Kolmogorov $k^{-5/3}$ scaling at small momenta.

Universal $k^{-3}$ power-law observed at large momenta.

Energy transport mechanism aligns with inverse cascade dynamics.

Abstract

We show the generation of two-dimensional quantum turbulence through simulations of a giant vortex decay in a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate. While evaluating the incompressible kinetic energy spectra of the quantum fluid described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, a bilinear form in a log-log plot is verified. A characteristic scaling behavior for small momenta shows resemblance to the Kolmogorov $k^{-5/3}$ law, while for large momenta it reassures the universal behavior of the core-size $k^{-3}$ power-law. This indicates a mechanism of energy transportation consistent with an inverse cascade. The feasibility of the described physical system with the currently available experimental techniques to create giant vortices opens up a new route to explore quantum turbulence.