Observation of roton emission from a quantized vortex

TL;DR

This study provides direct experimental evidence of roton emission from a quantized vortex in superfluid helium, revealing roton emission as the key dissipation mechanism at zero temperature.

Contribution

First direct observation of roton emission from a single quantized vortex, linking it to energy dissipation in superfluid helium at ultra-low temperatures.

Findings

Identified a sharp dissipation onset at a critical velocity.

Measured energy loss matching the roton gap energy.

Established roton emission as the main zero-temperature dissipation channel.

Abstract

Turbulence in inviscid quantum fluids offers unparalleled access to the universal principles of non-equilibrium dynamics, spanning a vast range of length scales from macroscopic flow down to the individual vortex core. In the zero-temperature limit, the microscopic mechanism by which the turbulent energy cascade terminates in the absence of viscosity remains a foundational challenge in quantum hydrodynamics. While prevailing theoretical descriptions prioritize phonon emission, they fail to account for the strong interatomic correlations that give rise to the roton minimum in superfluid $^4\mathrm{He}$. Here, we report the direct observation of roton emission from a single quantized vortex using a high-quality-factor nanomechanical resonator at 10 mK. We identify a sharp onset of dissipation at a critical velocity, and measure the energy loss per cycle, which corresponds quantitatively to the roton gap energy. Our findings address the long-standing mystery of zero-temperature energy relaxation by establishing roton emission as the primary dissipation channel in strongly correlated quantum liquids.