Generation of turbulence by vibrating forks and other structures in superfluid He-4 (Article No. 054522)
2009
Abstract
A study of the drag on the prongs of a number of quartz forks vibrating in the superfluid phase of He-4 is reported, and particular attention is paid to the transitions from laminar to turbulent flow over a wide range of temperature. Behavior in the normal phase is consistent with that for a classical fluid.
Behavior in the superfluid phase is compared to that of other structures vibrating in superfluid He-4, and similarities and differences are noted. We focus on the observed behavior of the drag coefficient as a function of velocity, and the problems posed by this behavior are explored