Quantum analog of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability on the surface of superfluid He-II

L. P. Mezhov-Deglin^(1,2), A. A. Levchenko^(1,2), and I. A. Remizov^(1,2)

1. Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Academician Ossipyan str., Chernogolovka, Moscow District, Russia 14243

2. Institute of Solid State Physics Russian Academy of Sciences, Akademika Semenova av., 1-A, Chernogolovka, Moscow District, Russia 142432


In this paper, we present the results of our experimental study of dynamic instability on the surface of superfluid He-II, induced by the relative motion (counterflow) of the normal and superfluid components, which arises under the action of a stationary heat flux in the volume of liquid. This instability is similar to the well-known Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, which arises at the boundary of two ordinary immiscible liquids or dense gases moving with different velocities. The theory of the KH instability on the surface of He-II was first considered in detail by S.E.Korshunov. An analogous approach was used by Andersson et al., in studies of the instability of a superfluid neutron liquid on the surface of neutron stars. Our experimental data are qualitatively consistent with the theoretical predictions taking into account the finite viscosity of He-II. The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Grant No.14-22-00259.