Analogue quantum simulation of turbulence

Novelty of the research methodology

Turbulence is a ubiquitous emergent phenomenon that has evaded a full understanding for centuries. This project will create turbulent states in box-trapped Bose gases from the 'ground up', using an ultracold-atom platform that allow control of the energy injection/driving, energy dissipation, system dimensionality, and both the strength and form of inter-particle interactions.

We will identify regimes where approximate classical models can and cannot capture dynamics in experiments and will, more broadly, enhance qualitative and quantitative understanding of turbulence. Aims and Objectives We anticipate that our experiments will address: (a) Quantitative descriptions of quasi-static turbulent systems in terms of an equation of state (EoS).

(b) The robustness of emergent momentum state isotropy (which often characterises turbulence despite anisotropic driving) to the strength of anisotropic(dipole-dipole) interactions, system geometry, and the form of driving.

(d) Vortex dominated turbulence. By deliberately injecting energy via modulating the direction of the magnetic field in a dipolar fluid we expect to be able to controllably generate turbulent states in which vortices play a key role. This project falls within the EPSRC Physical Sciences and Quantum Technologies research themes.