Coherent vortex dynamics in a strongly interacting superfluid on a silicon chip

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 366; no. 6472; pp. 1480 - 1485
• Main Authors: Sachkou, Yauhen P, Baker, Christopher G, Harris, Glen I, Stockdale, Oliver R, Forstner, Stefan, Reeves, Matthew T, He, Xin, McAuslan, David L, Bradley, Ashton S, Davis, Matthew J, Bowen, Warwick P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The American Association for the Advancement of Science 20.12.2019
• Subjects: Coherence; Dynamics; Fluids; Helium; Helium isotopes; Inertial sensing devices; Liquid helium; Nondestructive testing; Phase transitions; Quantum turbulence; Silicon; Superfluidity; Thin films; Turbulence; Vortices
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw9229

Quantized vortices are fundamental to the two-dimensional dynamics of superfluids, from quantum turbulence to phase transitions. However, surface effects have prevented direct observations of coherent two-dimensional vortex dynamics in strongly interacting systems. Here, we overcome this challenge by confining a thin film of superfluid helium at microscale on the atomically smooth surface of a silicon chip. An on-chip optical microcavity allows laser initiation of clusters of quasi-two-dimensional vortices and nondestructive observation of their decay in a single shot. Coherent dynamics dominate, with thermal vortex diffusion suppressed by five orders of magnitude. This establishes an on-chip platform with which to study emergent phenomena in strongly interacting superfluids and to develop quantum technologies such as precision inertial sensors.