Vortex sheet dynamics and turbulence
Abstract
Description
The nonlinear evolution of a vortex sheet driven by the Kelvin--Helmholtz instability is characterized by the formation of a spiral possessing complex stretching and intensity patterns. We show that the power energy spectrum of a single two-dimensional vortex sheet tends to the usual fluid turbulent spectrum, with an exponent of -3. Using numerical simulations and asymptotic methods, we demonstrate the relation between this power law and the singularities in the geometry and vorticity distribution of the sheet.
Submitted to Phys. Rev. Letters, the Dynamique des vortex Collaboration
Submitted to Phys. Rev. Letters, the Dynamique des vortex Collaboration