https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2010-01248-5
Regular article
Rogue waves in superfluid helium
1 Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, UK
2 Institute of Solid State Physics RAS, Chernogolovka, Moscow region 142432, Russia
3 Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Pittsburgh University, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
a e-mail: efimov@issp.ac.ru
b e-mail: a.ganshyn@lancaster.ac.uk
c e-mail: gek11@pitt.edu
d e-mail: p.v.e.mcclintock@lancaster.ac.uk
e e-mail: mezhov@issp.ac.ru
Rogue waves have been observed in superfluid helium. The experimental system consists of high intensity second sound (temperature-entropy) waves within a resonant cavity. Under steady state conditions, with a constant oscillatory driving force at the resonant frequency, the waves are turbulent and there are fluxes of energy towards both high and low frequencies. Rogue waves appear under the nonequilibrium conditions that prevail shortly after the drive has been switched on, prior to establishment of the steady state. The experiment is described briefly, relevant results are presented and discussed theoretically in terms of nonlinear wave interactions, and possible connections to rogue waves on the ocean are considered.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2010
