Nanoscale Real-Time Detection of Quantum Vortices at Millikelvin Temperatures

Guthrie, Andrew and Kafanov, Sergey and Noble, Theo and Pashkin, Yuri and Pickett, George and Tsepelin, Viktor and Dorofeev, Alexander and Krupenin, Vladimir and Presnov, Denis (2021) Nanoscale Real-Time Detection of Quantum Vortices at Millikelvin Temperatures. Nature Communications, 12 (1): 2645. ISSN 2041-1723

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Abstract

Since we still lack a theory of classical turbulence, attention has focused on the conceptually simpler turbulence in quantum fluids. Reaching a better understanding of the quantum case may provide additional insight into the classical counterpart. That said, we have hitherto lacked detectors capable of the real-time, non-invasive probing of the wide range of length scales involved in quantum turbulence. Here we demonstrate the real-time detection of quantum vortices by a nanoscale resonant beam in superfluid 4He at 10mK. Essentially, we trap a single vortex along the length of a nanobeam and observe the transitions as a vortex is either trapped or released, detected through the shift in the beam resonant frequency. By exciting a tuning fork, we control the ambient vortex density and follow its influence on the vortex capture and release rates demonstrating that these devices are capable of probing turbulence on the micron scale.