In quantum fluids, the quantization of circulation forbids the diffusion of a vortex swirling flow seen in classical viscous fluids. Yet, accelerating quantum vortices may lose their energy into acoustic radiations^1,2, similar to the way electric charges decelerate on emitting photons. The dissipation of vortex energy underlies central problems in quantum hydrodynamics³, such as the decay of quantum turbulence, highly relevant to systems as varied as neutron stars, superfluid helium and atomic condensates^4,5. A deep understanding of the elementary mechanisms behind irreversible vortex dynamics has been a goal for decades^3,6, but it is complicated by the shortage of conclusive experimental signatures⁷. Here we address this challenge by realizing a programmable vortex collider in a planar, homogeneous atomic Fermi superfluid with tunable inter-particle interactions. We create on-demand vortex configurations and monitor their evolution, taking advantage of the accessible time and length scales of ultracold Fermi gases^8,9. Engineering collisions within and between vortex–antivortex pairs allows us to decouple relaxation of the vortex energy due to sound emission and that due to interactions with normal fluid (that is, mutual friction). We directly visualize how the annihilation of vortex dipoles radiates a sound pulse. Further, our few-vortex experiments extending across different superfluid regimes reveal non-universal dissipative dynamics, suggesting that fermionic quasiparticles localized inside the vortex core contribute significantly to dissipation, thereby opening the route to exploring new pathways for quantum turbulence decay, vortex by vortex.

在量子流体中，循环的量子化阻止了经典粘性流体中涡旋涡流的扩散。然而，加速的量子漩涡可能会将其能量损失为声辐射^1,2，类似于电荷在发射光子时减速的方式。涡旋能量的耗散是量子流体动力学³的核心问题的基础，例如量子湍流的衰减，与中子星、超流氦和原子凝聚体^4,5等各种系统高度相关。深入了解不可逆涡旋动力学背后的基本机制是几十年来的目标^3,6，但由于缺乏确凿的实验特征^{7使得它变得复杂}. 在这里，我们通过在具有可调节粒子间相互作用的平面均匀原子费米超流体中实现可编程涡旋对撞机来应对这一挑战。^{我们利用超冷费米气体8,9}的可访问时间和长度尺度创建按需涡流配置并监控它们的演变. 涡流-反涡流对内部和之间的工程碰撞使我们能够解耦由于声音发射和与正常流体相互作用（即相互摩擦）引起的涡流能量松弛。我们直接想象涡旋偶极子的湮灭如何辐射声脉冲。此外，我们跨越不同超流体状态的少涡流实验揭示了非普遍的耗散动力学，这表明位于涡核内部的费米子准粒子对耗散有显着贡献，从而开辟了探索量子湍流衰减新途径的途径，涡旋。