Multimode probing of superfluid $\mathbf{^4He}$ by tuning forks

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the use of a dual-mode piezoelectric tuning fork to sensitively probe superfluid helium-4, revealing different responses of flexural and torsional modes to quantum turbulence and fluid excitations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel dual-mode tuning fork sensor capable of simultaneously operating in flexural and torsional modes to study superfluid helium-4.

Findings

Torsional mode is sensitive to shear forces at the fluid interface.

Flexural mode detects quantum turbulence and fluid excitations.

Dual-mode operation offers detailed insights into quantum fluid dynamics.

Abstract

Flexural mode vibrations of miniature piezoelectric tuning forks (TF) are known to be highly sensitive to superfluid excitations and quantum turbulence in $\mathrm{^3He}$ and $\mathrm{^4He}$ quantum fluids, as well as to the elastic properties of solid $\mathrm{^4He}$, complementing studies by large scale torsional resonators. Here we explore the sensitivity of a TF, capable of simultaneously operating in both the flexural and torsional modes, to excitations in the normal and superfluid $\mathrm{^4He}$. The torsional mode is predominantly sensitive to shear forces at the sensor - fluid interface and much less sensitive to changes in the density of the surrounding fluid when compared to the flexural mode. Although we did not reach the critical velocity for quantum turbulence onset in the torsional mode, due to its order of magnitude higher frequency and increased acoustic damping, the torsional mode was directly sensitive to fluid excitations, linked to quantum turbulence created by the flexural mode. The combination of two dissimilar modes in a single TF sensor can provide a means to study the details of elementary excitations in quantum liquids, and at interfaces between solids and quantum fluid.