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Title: Partition functions and equilibrium measures in two-dimensional and quasi-three-dimensional turbulence

Journal Article · · Physics of Fluids (1994)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.869051· OSTI ID:383113
 [1]
  1. Department of Mathematics and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

An attempt is made to construct numerically equilibrium measures for the Euler equations by first examining measures for discretized approximate systems and then searching on the computer for the limit of vanishing discretization. First the partition function is evaluated for two-dimensional discretized incompressible fields with a hydrodynamical energy function and an infinite number of invariants; the behavior of the partition functions is examined as the discretization is refined. The results are contrasted with those of recent mean-field theories, which are seen to be reasonable approximations only at moderate temperatures. The two-dimensional vortex system has no phase transitions and no states invariant under refinement of the discretization, except at zero temperature. Finite-temperature equilibrium measures may appear if a simple representation of vortex stretching is added to the system, in agreement with recent work on three-dimensional turbulence, where these equilibrium measures are used as key building blocks. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
383113
Journal Information:
Physics of Fluids (1994), Vol. 8, Issue 10; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English