Rotating Nonlinear Flows in Normal and Quantum Fluids

University Of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD

Investigators

Abstract

Non-Technical: This research award builds on unique expertize and experimental facilities at the University of Maryland to discover the properties of rotating fluid flow in water and liquid helium. Turbulence in similar flows is important in engineering (in jet engines and pumps), stars, and in understanding the Earth's atmosphere and outer core. This project will also explore a strange type of motion at low temperature known as superfluid vortex turbulence. The overall goal of the research is to advance our understanding of rotating fluid turbulence. The mentoring and training of young researchers, as undergraduate and graduate students, is a critical part of this project. They will obtain professional skills as researchers, preparing them for advancement as independent scientists to work in industry, national laboratories, or in research universities. Technical: This research award builds on unique experience and experimental facilities at the University of Maryland to probe shear driven flows in the presence of rapid rotation in Newtonian fluids and superfluids. Turbulent flows with global rotation arise in engineering, astrophysical, and geophysical situations. This research funding allows work on directly visualizing superfluid vortex turbulence, in addition to experiments in more easily diagnosable water flows. The overall goal of the research is to advance our understanding of a broad class of phenomena involving the interaction of nonlinearity, rotation and, in part, quantum fluids. The mentoring and training of young researchers, as undergraduate and graduate students, is a critical part of this project. They will obtain professional skills as researchers, preparing them for advancement as independent scientists.