Statistical models of the decay of 2D quantum turbulence

Turbulence is not just the annoying, sometimes frightening phenomena, we experience when the captain switches on the fasten seatbelt sign on a plane. Indeed, the problem of hydrodynamic turbulence is profound and continues to attract widespread interest across different scientific disciplines. Understanding turbulence is of enormous practical importance, but it also raises fundamental challenges for mathematicians. A particularly attractive system for the study of turbulence in two dimensions are Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). These condensates, manifesting at ultracold temperatures, offer a unique platform to study quantum mechanics in a macroscopic system, and quantum mechanical constraints on fluid motion offer the hope of a mathematical description of their dynamics. Our proposal focuses on the dynamics of two-dimensional turbulence within superfluid BECs, and in particular the decay of turbulence. Through an integrated approach that combines mathematical modelling, Bayesian statistics, and experimental validation, we hope to elucidate the fundamental principles underlying turbulent decay in BECs. It will also foster a new collaboration between UK-based theorists and an experimental group located in Seoul, further strengthening the UK’s considerable reputation in quantum fluids research.