Coupling of heat flux and vortex polarization in superfluid helium

Abstract

We consider a macroscopic description of the mutual influence between heat flux and vortex polarization in superfluid helium, in which the vortices produce a lateral deviation of the heat flux, and the heat flux produces a lateral drift of vortices. This coupling is a consequence of a microscopic Magnus force and mutual friction force between the vortices and the flow of excitations carrying the heat. We keep track of these effects with simplified macroscopic equations, and we apply them to second sound propagation between rotating concentric cylinders and to spatial distribution of polarization across a rectangular channel with vortices polarized orthogonally to the channel in the presence of an imposed heat flux.