DYNAMICAL VORTICES IN SUPERFLUID FILMS

The coupling of superfluid film to a moving vortex is a gauge coupling entirely dictated by topology. From the definition of a linking numbe r, one can define a gauge field A(mu), whose (2 + 1)-dimensional curl is the vortex three-current J(mu), and to which the superfluid is mini mally coupled. We compute the superfluid density and current response to a moving vortex. Exploiting the analogy to (2 + 1)-dimensional elec trodynamics, we compute the effective vortex mass M(omega) and find th at it is logarithmically divergent in the omega --> 0 limit, with a co nstant imaginary part, yielding a super-Ohmic dissipation in the prese nce of an oscillating superflow. Numerical integration of the nonlinea r Schrodinger equation supports these conclusions. The interaction of vortices with impurities coupling to the density also is discussed.