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Double-quantum vortex in superfluid 3He-A

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Abstract

Linear defects are generic in continuous media1. In quantum systems they appear as topological line defects which are associated with a circulating persistent current. In relativistic quantum field theories they are known as cosmic strings2, in superconductors as quantized flux lines3, and in superfluids3,4 and low-density Bose–Einstein condensates5 as quantized vortex lines. A conventional quantized vortex line consists of a central core around which the phase of the order parameter winds by 2πn, while within the core the order parameter vanishes or is depleted from the bulk value. Usually vortices are singly quantized (that is, have n = 1). But it has been theoretically predicted that, in superfluid 3He-A, vortex lines are possible that have n = 2 and continuous structure, so that the orientation of the multi-component order parameter changes smoothly throughout the vortex while the amplitude remains constant. Here we report direct proof, based on high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, that the most common vortex line in 3He-A has n = 2. One vortex line after another is observed to form in a regular periodic process, similar to a phase-slip in the Josephson effect.

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Figure 1: Double-quantum vortex in superfluid 3He-A and its nuclear magnetic resonance signature.
Figure 2: Height of the vortex satellite peak in the NMR absorption spectrum, as a function of rotation velocity Ω.
Figure 3: Determination of the probability distribution for the interval ΔΩ which separates successive phase-slip events in periodic vortex formation.
Figure 4: Stable long-range periodicity of phase-slip process.

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Acknowledgements

We thank H. Götz for help with the data analysis. This collaboration was carried out under the EU-TMR programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Low Temperature Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology, PO Box 2200, HUT, FIN-02015 , Finland

    R. Blaauwgeers, V. B. Eltsov, M. Krusius, J. J. Ruohio, R. Schanen & G. E. Volovik

  2. Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory, Leiden University, PO Box 9504, Leiden , 2300 RA, The Netherlands

    R. Blaauwgeers

  3. Kapitza Institute for Physical Problems , Kosygina 2, Moscow, 117334, Russia

    V. B. Eltsov

  4. Centre de Recherches sur les Très Basses Températures, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, BP 166, Grenoble, F-38042 Cedex 09, France

    R. Schanen

  5. Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kosygina 2, Moscow, 117334, Russia

    G. E. Volovik

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  1. R. Blaauwgeers
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  2. V. B. Eltsov
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  3. M. Krusius
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  4. J. J. Ruohio
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  5. R. Schanen
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  6. G. E. Volovik
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Correspondence to V. B. Eltsov.

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Blaauwgeers, R., Eltsov, V., Krusius, M. et al. Double-quantum vortex in superfluid 3He-A. Nature 404, 471–473 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35006583

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