Experimental demonstration of the supersonic-subsonic bifurcation in the circular jump: a hydrodynamic white hole

Optical analogues of black-hole horizons

Hawking radiation is unlikely to be measured from a real black hole, but can be tested in laboratory analogues. It was predicted as a consequence of quantum mechanics and general relativity, but turned out to be more universal. A refractive index perturbation produces an optical analogue of the black-hole horizon and Hawking radiation that is made of light. We discuss the central and recent experiments of the optical analogue, using hands-on physics. We stress the roles of classical fields, negative frequencies, 'regular optics' and dispersion. Opportunities and challenges ahead are briefly mentioned. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The next generation of analogue gravity experiments'.

Classical hydrodynamics for analogue space-times: open channel flows and thin films

Here we review the way to build analogue space-times in open channel flows by looking at the flow phase diagram and the corresponding analogue experiments performed during the last years in the associated flow regimes. Thin films like the circular jump with different dispersive properties are discussed with the introduction of a brand new system for the next generation of analogue gravity experiments: flowing soap films with their capillary/elastic waves. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The next generation of analogue gravity experiments'.

Formation Dynamics of Black- and White-Hole Horizons in an Analogue Gravity Model

We investigate the formation dynamics of sonic horizons in a Bose gas confined in a (quasi) one-dimensional trap. This system is one of the most promising realizations of the analogue gravity paradigm and has already been successfully studied experimentally. Taking advantage of the exact solution of the one-dimensional, hard-core, Bose model (Tonks–Girardeau gas), we show that by switching on a step potential, either a sonic, black-hole-like horizon or a black/white hole pair may form, according to the initial velocity of the fluid. Our simulations never suggest the formation of an isolated white-hole horizon, although a stable stationary solution of the dynamical equations with those properties is analytically found. Moreover, we show that the semiclassical dynamics, based on the Gross–Pitaevskii equation, conforms to the exact solution only in the case of fully subsonic flows while a stationary solution exhibiting a supersonic transition is never reached dynamically.

Magnonic Analog of Black- and White-Hole Horizons in Superfluid ^{3}He-B

We report on the theoretical model and experimental results of the experiment made in a limit of absolute zero temperature (∼600  μK) studying the spin wave analog of black- and white-hole horizons using spin (magnonic) superfluidity in superfluid ^{3}He-B. As an experimental tool simulating the properties of the black- and white-hole horizons, we used the spin-precession waves propagating on the background of the spin supercurrents between two Bose-Einstein condensates of magnons in the form of homogeneously precessing domains. We provide experimental evidence of the white hole formation for spin precession waves in this system, together with the observation of an amplification effect. Moreover, the estimated temperature of the spontaneous Hawking radiation in this system is about 4 orders of magnitude lower than the system's background temperature which makes it a promising tool for studying the effect of spontaneous Hawking radiation.

Observation of Stimulated Hawking Radiation in an Optical Analogue

The theory of Hawking radiation can be tested in laboratory analogues of black holes. We use light pulses in nonlinear fiber optics to establish artificial event horizons. Each pulse generates a moving perturbation of the refractive index via the Kerr effect. Probe light perceives this as an event horizon when its group velocity, slowed down by the perturbation, matches the speed of the pulse. We have observed in our experiment that the probe stimulates Hawking radiation, which occurs in a regime of extreme nonlinear fiber optics where positive and negative frequencies mix.

On cosmology in the laboratory

In transformation optics, ideas from general relativity have been put to practical use for engineering problems. This article asks the question how this debt can be repaid. In discussing a series of recent laboratory experiments, it shows how insights from wave phenomena shed light on the quantum physics of the event horizon.

Model for polygonal hydraulic jumps

We propose a phenomenological model for the polygonal hydraulic jumps discovered by Ellegaard and co-workers [Nature (London) 392, 767 (1998); Nonlinearity 12, 1 (1999); Physica B 228, 1 (1996)], based on the known flow structure for the type-II hydraulic jumps with a "roller" (separation eddy) near the free surface in the jump region. The model consists of mass conservation and radial force balance between hydrostatic pressure and viscous stresses on the roller surface. In addition, we consider the azimuthal force balance, primarily between pressure and viscosity, but also including nonhydrostatic pressure contributions from surface tension in light of recent observations by Bush and co-workers [J. Fluid Mech. 558, 33 (2006); Phys. Fluids 16, S4 (2004)]. The model can be analyzed by linearization around the circular state, resulting in a parameter relationship for nearly circular polygonal states. A truncated but fully nonlinear version of the model can be solved analytically. This simpler model gives rise to polygonal shapes that are very similar to those observed in experiments, even though surface tension is neglected, and the condition for the existence of a polygon with N corners depends only on a single dimensionless number φ. Finally, we include time-dependent terms in the model and study linear stability of the circular state. Instability occurs for sufficiently small Bond number and the most unstable wavelength is expected to be roughly proportional to the width of the roller as in the Rayleigh-Plateau instability.