End effects in rotating helium II

We numerically solve the two-fluid Hall-Vinen-Bekharevich-Khalatnikov equat ions to compute the steady flow of helium II confined inside a unit aspect ratio Couette annulus. The ends and enter wall of the cylinder are held fix ed, while the inner cylinder is rotated. This simple flow configuration all ows us to study how the vortex lines respond to a shear in the presence of boundaries which are both parallel and perpendicular to the natural axial d irection of the vortex lines. The main result of our investigation is the a nomalous motion of helium II when compared to the motion of a classical flu id. We also find that the normal fluid and the superfluid components of hel ium II can move in ways which are very different to each other, due to the tension in the vortex lines. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights rese rved.