Unwinding of a single quantized vortex from a wire

The dynamical behavior of a quantized vortex partially attached to a wire is studied theoretically, with the aim of interpreting recent experiments on quantized circulation in superfluid B3. The geometry considered consists of a thin wire running parallel to the axis of a circular cylinder enclosing the wire. The circulation is assumed to run part way up the wire, and then to enter the fluid as a free vortex which eventually terminates on the outer wall. It is found that such a vortex achieves a state of steady precession around the wire, accompanied by a steady unwinding motion down the wire due to frictional effects. For an off-center wire, both the precession rate and the unwinding rate develop oscillatory components. Various particulars, such as the effects of friction, of moving the wire off center, and of pinning, are investigated. Excellent agreement is obtained between experiment, analytical theory, and numerical calculations. © 1993 The American Physical Society.