Abstract
Turbulence in a superfluid was first observed and recognized in the 1950s, when it was established that the mutual friction accompanying a counterflow of the two fluids in helium II was due to the presence of a tangled turbulent array of quantized vortex lines in the superfluid component. This type of turbulence has no classical analogue, and it is fairly well understood. More recently other types of turbulence in helium II have been studied that do have classical analogues; these studies have included experiments, theories and computer simulations. An introductory account of this more recent work is given, with particular reference to turbulence produced by flow through a grid. There are similarities in comparison with classical turbulence for large length scales; but there must be important differences on length scales comparable with or less than the vortex line spacing. Emphasis is placed on behaviour at these small length scales (where quantum effects dominate), on a number of unsolved problems, and on the need for experiments at very low temperatures, where the influence of the normal fluid is likely to be small. The case for studying turbulence in superfluid 3He-B is mentioned.
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Vinen, W.F. Turbulence in a Superfluid. Journal of Low Temperature Physics 121, 367–376 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017593428347
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017593428347