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Observation of the Josephson-Anderson relation in experiments on hydrodynamic drag

Nicola Savelli, Ali R. Khojasteh, Abel-John Buchner, Jerry Westerweel, and Willem van de Water*

  • *Contact author: w.vandewater@tudelft.nl
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 024701 – Published 10 February, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/bcwy-gt4l

Abstract

We verify a recent prediction [Eq. (3.50) in Eyink, Phys. Rev. X 11, 031054 (2021)] for the drag on an object moving through a fluid. In this prediction the velocity field is decomposed into a nonvortical (potential) and vortical contribution, and so is the associated drag force. In the Josephson-Anderson relation the vortical contribution of the drag force follows from the flux of vorticity traversing the streamlines of the corresponding potential flow. The potential component is directly determined by the plate acceleration and its added mass. The Josephson-Anderson relation is derived from the quantum description of superfluids, but remarkably applies to the classical fluid in our experiment. In our experiment a flat plate is accelerated through water using a robotic arm. This geometry is simple enough to allow analytic potential flow streamlines. The monitored plate position shows an oscillatory component of the acceleration, which adds an additional test of the Josephson-Anderson relation. The instantaneous velocity field is measured using particle image velocimetry. It enables us to evaluate Eq. 3.50 from the above-mentioned paper and compare its prediction to the measured drag force. We find excellent agreement and, most remarkably, find that the added mass contribution to the drag force still stands out after the flow has turned vortical. We finally comment on the requirements for the experimental techniques for evaluating the Josephson-Anderson relation.

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References (28)

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 11, 024701– Published 10 February, 2026
  • Received 19 May 2025
  • Accepted 13 January 2026
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