Universal velocity profile for coherent vortices in two-dimensional turbulence

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2010 Jan;81(1 Pt 2):015302. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.81.015302. Epub 2010 Jan 19.

Abstract

Two-dimensional turbulence generated in a finite box produces large-scale coherent vortices coexisting with small-scale fluctuations. We present a rigorous theory explaining the eta=1/4 scaling in the V is proportional to r(-eta) law of the velocity spatial profile within a vortex, where r is the distance from the vortex center. This scaling, consistent with earlier numerical and laboratory measurements, is universal in its independence of details of the small-scale injection of turbulent fluctuations and details of the shape of the box.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.