Subcritical dissipation in three-dimensional superflows

Three-dimensional (3D) superflows past a circular cylinder are studied by numerically integrating the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. 3D initial data are built from the two-dimensional (2D) stationary vortex nucleation solutions. Quasistationary half-ring vortices, pinned at the sides of the cylinder, are generated after a short time. On a longer time scale, either 3D vortex stretching induces dissipation and drag, or the vortex is absorbed by the cylinder. The corresponding 3D critical velocity is found to be well below the 2D one. The implications for experiments in Bose-Einstein condensed gas and low-temperature helium are discussed.