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At least 37 records · Page 2

Entrainment in Superfluid Neutron-Star Crusts: Hydrodynamic Description and Microscopic Origin

In spite of the absence of viscous drag, the neutron superfluid permeating the inner crust of a neutron star cannot flow freely and is entrained by the nuclear lattice similarly to laboratory superfluid atomic gases in optical lattices. The role of entrainment on the neutron superfluid dynamics is reviewed. For this purpose, a minimal hydrodynamical model of superfluidity in neutron-star crusts is presented. This model relies on a fully 4-dimensionally covariant action principle. The equivalence of this formulation with the more traditional approach is demonstrated. In addition, the different treatments of entrainment in terms of dynamical effective masses or superfluid density are clarified. The nuclear energy density functional theory employed for the calculations of all the necessary microscopic inputs is also reviewed, focusing on superfluid properties. In particular, the microscopic origin of entrainment and the different methods to estimate its importance are discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Quantum Monte Carlo method for pairing phenomena: Supercounterfluid of two-species Bose gases in optical lattices

We study the supercounterfluid (SCF) states in the two-component hard-core Bose-Hubbard model on a square lattice, using the quantum Monte Carlo method based on the worm (directed-loop) algorithm. Since the SCF state is a state of a pair condensation characterized by <a{sup {dagger}b}>{ne}0,<a>=0, and <b>=0, where a and b are the order parameters of the two components, it is important to study behaviors of the pair-correlation function <a{sub i}b{sub i}{sup {dagger}a}{sub j}{sup {dagger}b}{sub j}>. For this purpose, we propose a choice of the worm head for calculating the pair-correlation function. From this pair correlation, we confirm the Kosterlitz-Thouless character of the SCF phase. The simulation efficiency is also improved in the SCF phase.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Statistical properties of excited nuclei in the mass range 47 Less-Than-Or-Slanted-Equal-To A Less-Than-Or-Slanted-Equal-To 59

Level densities and their energy dependences for nuclei in the mass range of 47 {<=} A {<=} 59 were determined from the results obtained by measuring neutron-evaporation spectra in respective (p, n) reactions. The spectra of neutrons originating from the (p, n) reactions on {sup 47}Ti, {sup 48}Ti, {sup 49}Ti, {sup 53}Cr, {sup 54}Cr, {sup 57}Fe, and {sup 59}Co nuclei were measured in the proton-energy range of 7-11 MeV. These measurements were performed with the aid of a fast-neutron spectrometer by the time-of-flight method over the base of the EGP-15 pulsed tandem accelerator installed at the Institute for Physics and Power Engineering (Obninsk, Russia). A high resolution of the spectrometer and its stability in the time of flight made it possible to identify reliably discrete low-lying levels along with the continuum part of neutron spectra. Our measured data were analyzed within the statistical equilibrium and preequilibrium models of nuclear reactions. The respective calculations were performed with the aid of the Hauser-Feshbach formalismof statistical theory supplemented with the generalized model of a superfluid nucleus, the back-shifted Fermi gas model, and the Gilbert-Cameron composite formula for nuclear level densities. Nuclear level densities for {sup 47}V, {sup 48}V, {sup 49}V, {sup 53}Mn, {sup 54}Mn, {sup 57}Co, and {sup 59}Ni and their energy dependences were determined. The results are discussed and compared with available experimental data and with recommendations of model-based systematics.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Emergence of coherence in the Mott-insulator-superfluid quench of the Bose-Hubbard model

We study the quench from the Mott-insulator to the superfluid phase in the Bose-Hubbard model and investigate the spatial-temporal growth of phase coherence, that is, phase locking between initially uncorrelated sites. To this end, we establish a hierarchy of correlations via a controlled expansion into inverse powers of the coordination number 1/Z. It turns out that the off-diagonal long-range order spreads with a constant propagation speed, forming local condensate patches, whereas the phase correlator follows a diffusionlike growth rate.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Cooper pair sizes in superfluid nuclei in a simplified model

Cooper pair sizes are evaluated in a simple harmonic oscillator model reproducing the values of sophisticated Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations. Underlying reasons for the very small sizes of 2.0-2.5 fm of Cooper pairs in the surface of nuclei are analyzed. It is shown that the confining properties of the nuclear volume is the dominating effect. It is argued that for Cooper pair sizes the local-density approximation idea is particularly inadapted.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

JPL pulsar timing observations. V - Macro and microjumps in the Vela pulsar 0833-45

In this paper, 14.5 yr of JPL timing data are analyzed to study the spindown of the Vela pulsar. Discontinuities in the spin frequency and its derivatives have bimodal amplitude distributions. Macrojumps are characterized by relative changes in spin rate of about 10 to the -6th with a derivative of 0.01, while microjumps have relative changes in spin rate of less than about 10 to the -9th with derivative of less than about 0.0001. Macrojumps display a (+,-) signature with a well-defined ratio of the amplitudes. Microjumps, however, show all possible signs of events and a larger range in signature. Six macrojumps and their associated transients are quantified using a 10-parameter model for each jump. Amplitude and decay time parameters vary by a factor of about five over the set of jumps. The results are discussed in terms of superfluid vortex models. The macrojumps are consistent with a model in which angular momentum is suddenly transferred to the crust from a more rapidly rotating superfluid core, followed by relaxation of the spin-down rate.

Cordes, J. M.↗

Landau superfluids as nonequilibrium stationary states

We define a superfluid state to be a nonequilibrium stationary state (NESS), which, at zero temperature, satisfies certain metastability conditions, which physically express that there should be a sufficiently small energy-momentum transfer between the particles of the fluid and the surroundings (e.g., pipe). It is shown that two models, the Girardeau model and the Huang-Yang-Luttinger (HYL) model, describe superfluids in this sense and, moreover, that, in the case of the HYL model, the metastability condition is directly related to Nozières’ conjecture that, due to the repulsive interaction, the condensate does not suffer fragmentation into two (or more) parts, thereby assuring its quantum coherence. The models are rigorous examples of NESS in which the system is not finite, but rather a many-body system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Dynamics of Superfluid Helium in Low-Gravity

This report summarizes the work performed under a contract entitled 'Dynamics of Superfluid Helium in Low Gravity'. This project performed verification tests, over a wide range of accelerations of two Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes of which one incorporates the two-fluid model of superfluid helium (SFHe). Helium was first liquefied in 1908 and not until the 1930s were the properties of helium below 2.2 K observed sufficiently to realize that it did not obey the ordinary physical laws of physics as applied to ordinary liquids. The term superfluidity became associated with these unique observations. The low temperature of SFHe and it's temperature unifonrmity have made it a significant cryogenic coolant for use in space applications in astronomical observations with infrared sensors and in low temperature physics. Superfluid helium has been used in instruments such as the Shuttle Infrared Astronomy Telescope (IRT), the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS), the Cosmic Background Observatory (COBE), and the Infrared Satellite Observatory (ISO). It is also used in the Space Infrared Telescope (SIRTF), Relativity Mission Satellite formally called Gravity Probe-B (GP-B), and the Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP) presently under development. For GP-B and STEP, the use of SFHE is used to cool Superconducting Quantum Interference Detectors (SQUIDS) among other parts of the instruments. The Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) experiment flown in the Shuttle studied the behavior of SFHE. This experiment attempted to get low-gravity slosh data, however, the main emphasis was to study the low-gravity transfer of SFHE from tank to tank. These instruments carried tanks of SFHE of a few hundred liters to 2500 liters. The capability of modeling the behavior of SFHE is important to spacecraft control engineers who must design systems that can overcome disturbances created by the movement of the fluid. In addition instruments such as GP-B and STEP are very sensitive to quasi-steady changes in the mass distribution of the liquid. The CFD codes were used to model the fluid's dynamic motion. Tests in one-g were performed with the main emphasis on being able to compute the actual damping of the fluid. A series of flights on the NASA Lewis reduced gravity DC-9 aircraft were performed with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Low Temperature Flight Facility and a superfluid Test Cell. The data at approximately 0.04g, lg and 2g were used to determine if correct fundamental frequencies can be predicted based on the acceleration field. Tests in zero gravity were performed to evaluate zero gravity motion.

Frank, David J.↗

Space Cryogenics Workshop, University of Wisconsin, Madison, June 22, 23, 1987

Papers are presented on liquid helium servicing from the Space Station, performance estimates in the Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer Flight Experiment, an analytical study of He II flow characteristics in the SHOOT transfer line, a Dewar to Dewar model for superfluid helium transfer, and mechanical pumps for superfluid helium transfer in space. Attention is also given to the cavitation characteristics of a small centrifugal pump in He I and He II, turbulent flow pressure drop in various He II transfer system components, slip effects associated with Knudsen transport phenomena in porous media, and an integrated fountain effect pump device for fluid management at low gravity. Other papers are on liquid/vapor phase separation in He-4 using electric fields, an enclosed capillary device for low-gravity management of He II, cavitation in flowing superfluid helium, the long-term performance of the passive thermal control systems of the IRAS spacecraft, and a novel approach to supercritical helium flight cryostat support structures.

Source record↗

A preference for cold dark matter over Superfluid Dark Matter in local Milky Way data

There are many well-known correlations between dark matter and baryons that exist on galactic scales. These correlations can essentially be encompassed by a simple scaling relation between observed and baryonic accelerations, historically known as the Mass Discrepancy Acceleration Relation (MDAR). The existence of such a relation has prompted many theories that attempt to explain the correlations by invoking additional fundamental forces on baryons. The standard lore has been that a theory that reduces to the MDAR on galaxy scales but behaves like cold dark matter (CDM) on larger scales provides an excellent fit to data, since CDM is desirable on scales of clusters and above. However, this statement should be revised in light of recent results showing that a fundamental force that reproduces the MDAR is challenged by local Milky Way dynamics and rotation curve data between 5–18 kpc. In this study, we test this claim on the example of Superfluid Dark Matter. We find that a standard CDM model is preferred over a static superfluid profile assuming a steady-state Galactic disk and discuss the robustness of this conclusion to disequilibrium effects. This preference is due to the fact that the superfluid model over-predicts vertical accelerations, even while reproducing galactic rotation curves. Our results establish an important criterion that any dark matter model must satisfy within the Milky Way.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Energy spectra of finite temperature superfluid helium-4 turbulence

A mesoscopic model of finite temperature superfluid helium-4 based on coupled Langevin-Navier-Stokes dynamics is proposed. Drawing upon scaling arguments and available numerical results, a numerical method for designing well resolved, mesoscopic calculations of finite temperature superfluid turbulence is developed. The application of model and numerical method to the problem of fully developed turbulence decay in helium II, indicates that the spectral structure of normal-fluid and superfluid turbulence is significantly more complex than that of turbulence in simple-fluids. Analysis based on a forced flow of helium-4 at 1.3 K, where viscous dissipation in the normal-fluid is compensated by the Lundgren force, indicate three scaling regimes in the normal-fluid, that include the inertial, low wavenumber, Kolmogorov k{sup −5/3} regime, a sub-turbulence, low Reynolds number, fluctuating k{sup −2.2} regime, and an intermediate, viscous k{sup −6} range that connects the two. The k{sup −2.2} regime is due to normal-fluid forcing by superfluid vortices at high wavenumbers. There are also three scaling regimes in the superfluid, that include a k{sup −3} range that corresponds to the growth of superfluid vortex instabilities due to mutual-friction action, and an adjacent, low wavenumber, k{sup −5/3} regime that emerges during the termination of this growth, as superfluid vortices agglomerate between intense normal-fluid vorticity regions, and weakly polarized bundles are formed. There is also evidence of a high wavenumber k{sup −1} range that corresponds to the probing of individual-vortex velocity fields. The Kelvin waves cascade (the main dynamical effect in zero temperature superfluids) appears to be damped at the intervortex space scale.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Guiding-center dynamics of vortex dipoles in Bose-Einstein condensates

A quantized vortex dipole is the simplest vortex molecule, comprising two countercirculating vortex lines in a superfluid. Although vortex dipoles are endemic in two-dimensional superfluids, the precise details of their dynamics have remained largely unexplored. We present here several striking observations of vortex dipoles in dilute-gas Bose-Einstein condensates, and develop a vortex-particle model that generates vortex line trajectories that are in good agreement with the experimental data. Interestingly, these diverse trajectories exhibit essentially identical quasiperiodic behavior, in which the vortex lines undergo stable epicyclic orbits.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Ultracold bosons in a synthetic periodic magnetic field: Mott phases and reentrant superfluid-insulator transitions

We study Mott phases and superfluid-insulator (SI) transitions of ultracold bosonic atoms in a two-dimensional square optical lattice at commensurate filling and in the presence of a synthetic periodic vector potential characterized by a strength p and a period l=qa, where q is an integer and a is the lattice spacing. We show that the Schroedinger equation for the noninteracting bosons in the presence of such a periodic vector potential can be reduced to an one-dimensional Harper-like equation which yields q energy bands. The lowest of these bands have either single or double minima whose position within the magnetic Brillouin zone can be tuned by varying p for a given q. Using these energies and a strong-coupling expansion technique, we compute the phase diagram of these bosons in the presence of a deep optical lattice. We chart out the p and q dependence of the momentum distribution of the bosons in the Mott phases near the SI transitions and demonstrate that the bosons exhibit several reentrant field-induced SI transitions for any fixed period q. We also predict that the superfluid density of the resultant superfluid state near such a SI transition has a periodicity q (q/2) in real space for odd (even) q and suggest experiments to test our theory.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Response to “Comment on ‘Motion of a helical vortex filament in superfluid {sup 4}He under the extrinsic form of the local induction approximation”’ [Phys. Fluids 26, 019101 (2014)]

I agree with the authors regarding their comments on the Donnelly-Glaberson instability for such helical filaments as those obtained in my paper. I also find merit in their derivation of the quantum LIA (local induction approximation) in the manner of the LIA of Boffetta et al. However, I disagree with the primary criticisms of Hietala and Hänninen. In particular, though they suggest LIA and local nonlinear equation modes are not comparable since the former class of models contains superfluid friction parameters, note that since these parameters are small one may take them to zero and consider a qualitative comparison of the models (which is what was done in my paper). Second, while Hietala and Hänninen criticize certain assumptions made in my paper (and the paper of Shivamoggi where the model comes from) since the results break-down when Ak → ∞, note that in my paper I state that any deviations from the central axis along which the filament is aligned must be sufficiently bounded in variation. Therefore, it was already acknowledged that Ak(=|Φ{sub x}|) should be sufficiently bounded, precluding the Ak → ∞ case. I also show that, despite what Hietala and Hänninen claim, the dispersion relation obtained in my paper is consistent with LIA, where applicable. Finally, while Hietala and Hänninen claim that the dispersion parameter should be complex valued, I show that their dispersion relation is wrong, since it was derived incorrectly (they assume the complex modulus of the potential function is constant, yet then use this to obtain a potential function with non-constant modulus)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

On limits of ab initio calculations of pairing gap in nuclei

A brief review of recent microscopic calculations of nuclear pairing gap is given. A semi-microscopic model is suggested in which the ab initio effective pairing interaction is supplemented with a small phenomenological addendum. It involves a parameter which is universal for all medium and heavy nuclei. Calculations for several isotopic and isotonic chains of semi-magic nuclei confirm the relevance of the model.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Superfluidity of heated Fermi systems in the static fluctuation approximation

Superfluidity properties of heated finite Fermi systems are studied in the static fluctuation approximation, which is an original method. This method relies on a single and controlled approximation, which permits taking correctly into account quasiparticle correlations and thereby going beyond the independent-quasiparticle model. A closed self-consistent set of equations for calculating correlation functions at finite temperature is obtained for a finite Fermi system described by the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer Hamiltonian. An equation for the energy gap is found with allowance for fluctuation effects. It is shown that the phase transition to the supefluid state is smeared upon the inclusion of fluctuations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

On microscopic theory of radiative nuclear reaction characteristics

A survey of some results in the modern microscopic theory of properties of nuclear reactions with gamma rays is given. First of all, we discuss the impact of Phonon Coupling (PC) on the Photon Strength Function (PSF) because it represents the most natural physical source of additional strength found for Sn isotopes in recent experiments that could not be explained within the standard HFB + QRPA approach. The self-consistent version of the Extended Theory of Finite Fermi Systems in the Quasiparticle Time Blocking Approximation is applied. It uses the HFB mean field and includes both the QRPA and PC effects on the basis of the SLy4 Skyrme force. With our microscopic E1 PSFs, the following properties have been calculated for many stable and unstable even–even semi-magic Sn and Ni isotopes as well as for double-magic {sup 132}Sn and {sup 208}Pb using the reaction codes EMPIRE and TALYS with several Nuclear Level Density (NLD) models: (1) the neutron capture cross sections; (2) the corresponding neutron capture gamma spectra; (3) the average radiative widths of neutron resonances. In all the properties considered, the PC contribution turned out to be significant, as compared with the standard QRPA one, and necessary to explain the available experimental data. The results with the phenomenological so-called generalized superfluid NLD model turned out to be worse, on the whole, than those obtained with the microscopic HFB + combinatorial NLD model. The very topical question about the M1 resonance contribution to PSFs is also discussed.Finally, we also discuss the modern microscopic NLD models based on the self-consistent HFB method and show their relevance to explain the experimental data as compared with the phenomenological models. The use of these self-consistent microscopic approaches is of particular relevance for nuclear astrophysics, but also for the study of double-magic nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Bogolyubov’s theory of superfluidity

The Bogolyubov model of liquid helium is considered. We derive sufficient conditions which ensure an appearance of the Bose condensate in the model. For some temperatures and some positive values of the chemical potential there is the gapless Bogolyubov spectrum of elementary excitations, leading to the proper microscopic interpretation of the superfluidity.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗