Twisted unwinding of multi-charged quantum vortex and generation of turbulence in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

We report the observation of the twisted decay of quadruply charged vortices in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. Supporting numerical simulations show that the singly-charged vortices, which result from the decay of a multi-charged vortex, twist around intertwined in the shape of helical Kelvin waves. Finally, we propose to apply this effect to generate an almost isotropic state of turbulence which we characterize in terms of the velocity statistics.