Superfluid flow through multiply connected geometries

Abstract

For conditions opposite those considered by Van Alphen et al., the equations for superfluid flow between two reservoirs joined by multiple parallel paths are presented and solved for the case of two paths. Significant circulation (persistent current) can be created and detected by fluid transfer between reservoirs without external control over the flow paths. Characteristic signatures of circulation that are present in the level oscillations are derived in terms of the system parameters. The types of unexplained frequency shifts and damping maxima observed by Hammel et al. in U-tube oscillations are shown to result from a parallel flow path of relatively small area.