Strong Quantum Turbulence in Bose Einstein Condensates

TL;DR

This paper investigates strong quantum turbulence in Bose-Einstein condensates through experiments and simulations, revealing unique turbulence characteristics involving fragmented density fluctuations and vortex loops, distinct from classical and other quantum turbulence.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of strong quantum turbulence in Bose-Einstein condensates, highlighting its unique properties and scaling behaviour not seen in other systems.

Findings

Presence of fragmented density fluctuations

Existence of small random vortex loops

Distinct scaling behaviour of turbulence

Abstract

By combining experiments and numerical simulations which model the dynamics of shaken atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, we reveal the surprising nature of quantum turbulence in these systems. Unlike the tangles of vortex lines described in the superfluid helium literature, we find that our turbulent atomic condensate contains a mixture of strong fragmented density fluctuations and small random vortex loops which are not homogeneously distributed. This unusual form of turbulence, with its own properties and scaling behaviour, which we call strong quantum turbulence, is significantly different from the turbulence which is observed in either classical or other quantum systems, thus posing a new challenge in turbulence research.