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The Cryogenic Lagrangian Exploration Module: a rotating cryostat for the study of quantum vortices in Helium II via particle seeding

2025/01/01 by Jeremy Vessaire, Jérémy Vessaire, Vessaire, Jeremy +16 · 1 voice
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Other Condensed Matter (cond-mat.other) #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies #Superconducting Materials and Applications #cond-mat.other #physics.flu-dyn

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2510.00026

openalex publication_date 2025/01/01 · arxiv published 2025/09/25 · arxiv updated 2025/09/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/04 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

The study of quantum vortex dynamics in HeII offers great potential for advancing quantum-fluid models. Bose-Einstein condensates, neutron stars, and even superconductors exhibit quantum vortices, whose interactions are crucial for dissipation in these systems. These vortices have quantized velocity circulation around their cores, which, in HeII, are of atomic size. They have been observed indirectly, through methods such as second sound attenuation or electron bubble imprints on photosensitive materials. Over the past twenty years, decorating cryogenic flows with particles has become a powerful approach to studying these vortices. However, recent particle visualization experiments often face challenges with stability, initial conditions, stationarity, and reproducibility. Moreover, most dynamical analyses are performed in 2D, even though many flows are inherently 3D. We constructed a rotating cryostat with optical ports on an elongated square cupola to enable 2D2C, 2D3C, and 3D3C Lagrangian and Eulerian studies of rotating HeII flow. Using this setup, individual quantum vortices have been tracked with micron-sized particles, as demonstrated by Peretti et al., Sci. Adv. 9, eadh2899 (2023). The cryostat and associated equipment -- laser, cameras, sensors, and electronics -- float on a 50 μm air cushion, allowing for precise control of the experiment's physical parameters. The performance during rotation is discussed, along with details on particle injection.

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