Quantum analog to flapping of flags: interface instability for co-flow binary superfluids

TL;DR

This paper models the interface instability in co-flowing binary superfluids using holographic methods, revealing a quantum analog of flag flapping and complex turbulence phenomena.

Contribution

It provides the first theoretical realization of interface instability in two superfluid components moving together, contrasting with classical models.

Findings

Identification of a quantum analog to flag flapping instability.

Observation of intricate nonlinear patterns leading to quantum turbulence.

Distinction between interface instability and Landau instability in superfluids.

Abstract

We study the interface dynamics in immiscible binary superfluids using its holographic description, which naturally consists of an inviscid superfluid component and a viscous normal fluid component. We give the first theoretical realization of interface instability for two superfluid components moving with identical velocity, providing a quantum analog to the flapping of flags that is common in daily life. This behavior is in sharp contrast to the one from Gross-Pitaevskii equation for which no such co-flow instability develops in an isolated uniform system because of Galilean invariance. The real time evolution triggered by the dynamical instability exhibits intricate nonlinear patterns leading to quantum turbulence reminiscent of the quantum Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Moreover, we show that such interface dynamics is essentially different from the Landau instability for which the frictionless flow becomes thermodynamically unstable above a critical superfluid velocity. Our study uncovers the rich interface dynamics of quantum fluids and the emergence of complex flow phenomena.