Are quantum vortices real?
Yes, quantum vortices are real phenomena that occur in certain systems of matter and energy, particularly in the realm of quantum mechanics.
Quantum vortices are observed experimentally in type-II superconductors (the Abrikosov vortex), liquid helium, and atomic gases (see Bose–Einstein condensate). As well as in photon fields (optical vortex) and exciton-polariton superfluids.
In quantum mechanics, particles are described by wave functions that can exhibit a property known as phase.
a wave function is a mathematical description of a quantum system. It is a complex-valued function that describes the state of a particle or a collection of particles, such as an atom or a molecule.
The wave function contains information about the position, momentum, and other properties of the particle(s) that it describes. Specifically, the wave function gives the probability amplitude for a particle found at a certain position or to have a certain momentum.
The wave function, often denoted by the Greek letter Psi (Ψ) and can become represented as a function of position (Ψ(x)) or momentum (Ψ(p)). The Schrödinger equation is used to calculate the time evolution of the wave function and determine the probability of a particle being in a particular state at a particular time.
It is important to note that the wave function is a mathematical construct used to describe the behavior of particles at the quantum level, and it does not represent a physical object in the same way that a classical wave represents a physical object.
A phase, essentially the angle of rotation of the wave function at any given point in space and time. Quantum vortices are regions in which the phase of the wave function changes rapidly in a circular or helical pattern, creating a vortex-like structure.
Moreover, one of the most well-known examples is in superfluids, which are fluids that exhibit zero viscosity at extremely low temperatures.
One of the most well-known examples of a superfluid is liquid helium-4, which becomes a superfluid at temperatures below 2.17 Kelvin (or -271.98 degrees Celsius).
At this temperature, helium-4 undergoes a phase transition, in which it loses all viscosity and flows without any resistance. This means that it can continue to flow indefinitely in a closed loop, even in the absence of any external forces.
Superfluids also exhibit other unusual properties, such as the ability to flow through narrow channels without any resistance, and the ability to rotate without any loss of energy. These properties are a consequence of the superfluid state being described by a single, coherent quantum mechanical wave function, in which all of the particles in the fluid are described by the same wave function.
Superfluids have important applications in fields such as low-temperature physics, quantum mechanics, and materials science. They have also become used in the development of technologies such as cryogenic refrigerators and high-precision sensors.
In superfluids, quantum vortices become created when the fluid is stirred, and they can have important effects on the behavior of the fluid, such as influencing its flow and energy dissipation.
Quantum vortices have also become observed in other systems, such as Bose-Einstein condensates. Which are collections of ultra-cold atoms that behave as a single wave-like entity. Lastly, these vortices have important implications for understanding the behavior of matter at the quantum level and for developing new technologies based on quantum mechanics.
Are quantum vortices real?
Evolution of large-scale flow from turbulence in a two-dimensional superfluid | Science
Chapter II Application of Quantum Mechanics to Liquid Helium – ScienceDirect
