Slow $^{4}He$ Quenches Produce Fuzzy, Transient Vortices

TL;DR

This paper investigates how rapid cooling of liquid helium-4 leads to the formation of transient, fuzzy vortices, emphasizing the role of thermal fluctuations and suggesting these vortices decay faster than previously thought.

Contribution

It extends the Zurek scenario analysis to later times and highlights the impact of thermal fluctuations on vortex definition and decay in quenched helium-4.

Findings

Vortices are poorly defined until after the transition due to thermal fluctuations.

Transient vortices decay faster than turbulence experiments suggest.

Thermal fluctuations influence vortex formation and stability.

Abstract

We examine the Zurek scenario for the production of vortices in quenches of liquid $^{4}He$ in the light of recent experiments. Extending our previous results to later times, we argue that short wavelength thermal fluctuations make vortices poorly defined until after the transition has occurred. Further, if and when vortices appear, it is plausible that that they will decay faster than anticipated from turbulence experiments, irrespective of quench rates.