Punctuated vortex coalescence and discrete scale invariance in two-dimensional turbulence
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
We present experimental evidence and theoretical arguments showing that the time-evolution of freely decaying two-dimensional (2D) turbulence is governed by a discrete time scale invariance rather than a continuous time scale invariance. Physically, this reflects that the time-evolution of the merging of vortices is not smooth but punctuated, leading to a preferred scale factor and, as a consequence, to log-periodic oscillations. From a thorough analysis of freely decaying 2D turbulence experiments, we show that the number of vortices, their radius and separation display log-periodic oscillations as a function of time with an average log-frequency of ≈ 4-5 corresponding to a preferred scaling ratio of ≈ 1.2-1.3.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Journal | Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena |
Volume | 138 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
Pages (from-to) | 302-315 |
Number of pages | 14 |
ISSN | 0167-2789 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Apr 2000 |
- Discrete scale invariance, Two-dimensional turbulence, Vortex coalescence
Research areas
ID: 332620645