Reynolds number dependence of scalar fluctuations in a high Schmidt number turbulent jet

The scalar rms fluctuations in a turbulent jet were investigated experimentally, using high-resolution, laser-induced fluorescence techniques. The experiments were conducted in a high Schmidt number fluid (water), on the jet centerline, over a jet Reynolds number range of 30003000 or 6500

Stochastic geometric properties of scalar interfaces in turbulent jets

Experiments were conducted in which the behavior of scalar interfaces in turbulent jets was examined, using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) techniques. The experiments were carried out in a high Schmidt number fluid (water), on the jet centerline, over a jet Reynolds number range of 1000<=Re<=24 000. Both two-dimensional scalar data, c(r,t) at fixed x/d, and one-dimensional scalar data, c(t) at fixed x/d and r/x, were analyzed using standard one- and two-dimensional fractal box-counting algorithms. Careful treatment was given to the handling of noise. Both long and short records as well as off-centerline measurements were also investigated. The important effect of threshold upon the results is discussed. No evidence was found of a constant (power-law) fractal dimension over the range of Reynolds numbers studied. On the other hand, the results are consistent with the computed behavior of a simple stochastic model of interface geometry

Measurements of scalar power spectra in high Schmidt number turbulent jets

We report on an experimental investigation of temporal, scalar power spectra of round, high Schmidt number (Sc ≃ 1.9 × 10^3), momentum-dominated turbulent jets, for jet Reynolds numbers in the range of 1.25 × 10^4 ≤ Re ≤ 7.2 × 10^4. At intermediate scales, we find a spectrum with a slope (logarithmic derivative) that increases in absolute value with Reynolds number, but remains less than 5/3 at the highest Reynolds number in our experiments. At the smallest scales, our spectra exhibit no k^(−1) power-law behaviour, but, rather, seem to be approximated by a log-normal function, over a range of scales exceeding a factor of 40, in some cases

Some consequences of the boundedness of scalar fluctuations

Values of the scalar field c(x,t), if initially bounded, will always be bounded by the limits set by the initial conditions. This observation permits the maximum variance ∼(c′^2) to be computed as a function of the mean value c. It is argued that this maximum should be expected in the limit of infinite Schmidt numbers (zero scalar species diffusivity). This suggests that c′/c on the axis of turbulent jets, for example, may not tend to a constant, i.e., independent of x/d, in the limit of very large Schmidt numbers. It also underscores a difficulty with the k^(−1) scalar spectrum proposed by Batchelor [J. Fluid Mech. 5, 113 (1959)]

SOCIAL SCIENCE IN THE EXTENSION SERVICE

Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

Fingerprints of Classical Instability in Open Quantum Dynamics

The dynamics near a hyperbolic point in phase space is modelled by an inverted harmonic oscillator. We investigate the effect of the classical instability on the open quantum dynamics of the oscillator, introduced through the interaction with a thermal bath, using both the survival probability function and the rate of von Neumann entropy increase, for large times. In this parameter range we prove, using influence functional techniques, that the survival probability function decreases exponentially at a rate, K', depending not only on the measure of instability in the model but also on the strength of interaction with the environment. We also show that K' determines the rate of von Neumann entropy increase and that this result is independent of the temperature of the environment. This generalises earlier results which are valid in the limit of vanishing dissipation. The validity of inferring similar rates of survival probability decrease and entropy increase for quantum chaotic systems is also discussed.Comment: 13 pages, to be published in Physical Review

Measuring the Effects of Artificial Viscosity in SPH Simulations of Rotating Fluid Flows

A commonly cited drawback of SPH is the introduction of spurious shear viscosity by the artificial viscosity term in situations involving rotation. Existing approaches for quantifying its effect include approximate analytic formulae and disc-averaged be- haviour in specific ring-spreading simulations, based on the kinematic effects produced by the artificial viscosity. These methods have disadvantages, in that they typically are applicable to a very small range of physical scenarios, have a large number of simplifying assumptions, and often are tied to specific SPH formulations which do not include corrective (e.g., Balsara) or time-dependent viscosity terms. In this study we have developed a simple, generally applicable and practical technique for evaluating the local effect of artificial viscosity directly from the creation of specific entropy for each SPH particle. This local approach is simple and quick to implement, and it al- lows a detailed characterization of viscous effects as a function of position. Several advantages of this method are discussed, including its ease in evaluation, its greater accuracy and its broad applicability. In order to compare this new method with ex- isting ones, simple disc flow examples are used. Even in these basic cases, the very roughly approximate nature of the previous methods is shown. Our local method pro- vides a detailed description of the effects of the artificial viscosity throughout the disc, even for extended examples which implement Balsara corrections. As a further use of this approach, explicit dependencies of the effective viscosity in terms of SPH and flow parameters are estimated from the example cases. In an appendix, a method for the initial placement of SPH particles is discussed which is very effective in reducing numerical fluctuations.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, resubmitted to MNRA