The Gravity Laboratory at the University of Nottingham uses analog experiments to study cosmological events at laboratory scales. This includes studying quantum vortices generated in superfluid helium to simulate gravity and black holes. Phonon excitations and surface waves generate these vortices, which are then studied and applied to cosmological scale models. Measuring the properties of these features in superfluid helium is experimentally challenging due to ultra-low temperature requirements, optical access, low optical contrast and structures occurring between mm and nm scales. A concise overview of equipment, experiments, tools and techniques are presented to demonstrate how phonon activity can be used to simulate physics on the cosmological scale. This includes ultra-low cryogenics, Fourier transform profilometry ^[1] and multiplexed digital holography ^[2].

References:

[1] P Švančara, P Smaniotto, L Solidoro, JF MacDonald, S Patrick, R Gregory, CF Barenghi & S Weinfurtner, Nature, Vol. 628, 2024.

[2] A Geelmuyden, VS. Barroso, SC Ajithkumar, AJ Kent and S Weinfurtner, Appl. Opt., Vol. 62, Num 27, 2023.