Superflows around corners

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Frisch, Thomas, Josserand, Christophe, Rica, Sergio
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Frisch, Thomas
Josserand, Christophe
Rica, Sergio
author_facet Frisch, Thomas
Josserand, Christophe
Rica, Sergio
contents We investigate analytically and numerically the dynamics of a two-dimensional superflow governed by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation passing over finite-size rectangular obstacles: an impenetrable wall and an impenetrable rectangular well. Extending classical studies of vortex nucleation around smooth obstacles, we focus on the role of sharp corners in determining the onset of vortex nucleation. Using a combination of analytical techniques based on the Schwarz-Christoffel methods for potential flow and on numerical simulations, we show that local velocity amplification near sharp corners crucially controls the critical flow velocity for vortex nucleation. For both wall and well configurations, we identify analytically and theoretically the critical velocities as a function of the obstacle width and its height or depth, finding an excellent agreement between the theory and our numerical simulations. Our results provide a simple framework for understanding superflow stability past finite-size obstacles with sharp features and are directly relevant to experimentally realizable configurations in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates and related superfluid systems.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_18876
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Superflows around corners
Frisch, Thomas
Josserand, Christophe
Rica, Sergio
Quantum Gases
Pattern Formation and Solitons
We investigate analytically and numerically the dynamics of a two-dimensional superflow governed by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation passing over finite-size rectangular obstacles: an impenetrable wall and an impenetrable rectangular well. Extending classical studies of vortex nucleation around smooth obstacles, we focus on the role of sharp corners in determining the onset of vortex nucleation. Using a combination of analytical techniques based on the Schwarz-Christoffel methods for potential flow and on numerical simulations, we show that local velocity amplification near sharp corners crucially controls the critical flow velocity for vortex nucleation. For both wall and well configurations, we identify analytically and theoretically the critical velocities as a function of the obstacle width and its height or depth, finding an excellent agreement between the theory and our numerical simulations. Our results provide a simple framework for understanding superflow stability past finite-size obstacles with sharp features and are directly relevant to experimentally realizable configurations in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates and related superfluid systems.
title Superflows around corners
topic Quantum Gases
Pattern Formation and Solitons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.18876