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Merging of superfluid helium nanodroplets with vortices

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Escartín, José María  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4940-2767
Ancilotto, Francesco 
Barranco, Manuel 

Abstract

Within density functional theory, we have investigated the coalescence dynamics of two superfluid helium nanodroplets hosting vortex lines in different relative orientations, which are drawn towards each other by the Van der Waals mutual attraction. We have found a rich phenomenology depending on how the vortex lines are oriented. In particular, when a vortex and antivortex lines are present in the merging droplets, a dark soliton develops at the droplet contact region, which eventually decays into vortex rings. Reconnection events are observed between the vortex lines or rings, leading to the creation of more vortices. Our simulations show the interplay between vortex creation and reconnections, as well as the effect of the droplet surface which pins the vortex ends and, by reflecting short-wavelength excitations produced by the interactions between vortices, strongly affects the droplet final state. Additional vorticity is nucleated in the proximity of surface indentations produced in the course of the dynamics, which in turn interact with other vortices present in the droplets. These effects, obviously absent in the case of bulk liquid helium, show that the droplet surface may act as a multiplier of vortex reconnections. The analysis of the energy spectrum shows that vortex-antivortex ring annihilation, as well as vortex-antivortex reconnections, yields roton bursts of different intensity.

Description

Keywords

51 Physical Sciences, 5103 Classical Physics

Journal Title

Physical Review B

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2469-9950
2469-9969

Volume Title

105

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P034616/1)