Study of Grid Turbulence in Superfluid He$^4$ in a Large Square Channel

Studying quantum turbulence in superfluid helium can lead us to a deeper understanding in classical turbulence. We study grid-generated turbulence in liquid helium in the temperature range 1.4 K-2.1 K for homogeneous and isotropic turbulence (HIT). Using a conventional second sound attenuation method, the decay of vorticity ($\omega$) is observed in a long, square cross-section channel. Theories assume that energy is injected on the scale of the grid mesh size, and predict that when the energy containing eddies are growing, the vorticity decays as $\omega\sim$ t$^{-11/10}$ or $\omega\sim$ t$^{-17/14}$. When they saturate at the channel size, the vorticity begins decaying as $\omega\sim$ t$^{-3/2}$. Previous experiments have been performed in 1 cm$^2$ square channels, with a limited range of mesh sizes\footnote{M. R. Smith, R. J. Donnelly, N. Goldenfeld, and W. F. Vinen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 2583 (1993).; S. R. Stalp, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Oregon 1998.; L. Munday, Ph.D. dissertation, Lancaster University 2014.}. We have used a larger channel and various mesh sizes to investigate grid mesh size effects and decay before saturation. A novel phase and amplitude locked feedback system ensures fast, stable attenuation data without disturbances from temperature fluctuations.