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Summary: NON-EXTENSIVE MODEL FOR TURBULENT
FLOW IN A RAPIDLY ROTATING ANNULUS
Sunghwan Jung, Brian D. Storey, Julien Aubert, and Harry L. Swinney
sunnyjsh@chaos.utexas.edu
Center for Nonlinear Dynamics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
USA.
Abstract
We have conducted experiments on turbulence in a rapidly rotating
annular tank. The
ow is driven by pumping
uid into the tank through
a semi-circle of holes; the
uid
ows out through a semi-circle of holes
on the opposite side of the annulus. We model the system using statis-
tical mechanics with a non-extensive entropy. Assuming conservation
of potential enstrophy and energy, we deduce a mean vorticity pro le
that agrees with the observations. Further, we nd that the probability
distribution for the vorticity is better t by nonextensive than extensive
theory.
Equilibrium statistical mechanics has long been used to model two-
dimensional (2D) turbulence, but 2D turbulent
ows can at best only
be approximated in real systems [1]. Thin electrolytic layers and soap
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