Velocity, energy, and helicity of vortex knots and unknots

In this paper we determine the velocity, the energy, and estimate writhe and twist helicity contributions of vortex filaments in the shape of torus knots and unknots (as toroidal and poloidal coils) in a perfect fluid. Calculations are performed by numerical integration of the Biot-Savart law. Vortex complexity is parametrized by the winding number w given by the ratio of the number of meridian wraps to that of longitudinal wraps. We find that for w<1 vortex knots and toroidal coils move faster and carry more energy than a reference vortex ring of same size and circulation, whereas for w>1 knots and poloidal coils have approximately same speed and energy of the reference vortex ring. Helicity is dominated by writhe contributions. Finally, we confirm the stabilizing effect of the Biot-Savart law for all knots and unknots tested, found to be structurally stable over a distance of several diameters. Our results also apply to quantized vortices in superfluid H4 e. © 2010 The American Physical Society.