Reynolds similitude, a key concept in hydrodynamics, states that two phenomena of different length scales with a similar geometry are physically identical. Flow properties are universally determined in a unified way in terms of the Reynolds number ${ \cal R}$ (dimensionless, ratio of inertial to viscous forces in incompressible fluids). For example, the drag coefficient $c_D$ of objects with similar shapes moving in fluids is expressed by a universal function of ${ \cal R}$. Certain studies introduced similar dimensionless numbers, that is, the superfluid Reynolds number ${ \cal R}_s$, to characterize turbulent flows in superfluids. However, the applicablity of the similitude to inviscid quantum fluids is nontrivial as the original theory is applicable to viscous fluids. This study proposed a method to verify the similitude using current experimental techniques in quantum liquid He-II. A highly precise relation between $c_D$ and ${ \cal R}_s$ was obtained in terms of the terminal speed of a macroscopic body falling in He-II at finite temperatures across the Knudsen (ballistic) and hydrodynamic regimes of thermal excitations. Reynolds similitude in superfluids can facilitate unified mutual development of classical and quantum hydrodynamics.
Categories: cond-mat.other cond-mat.quant-gas physics.flu-dyn