We present the most extensive direct numerical simulations, attempted so far,
of statistically steady, homogeneous, isotropic turbulence in two-dimensional
fluid films with air-drag-induced friction and with polymer additives. Our
study reveals that the polymers (a) reduce the total fluid energy, enstrophy,
and palinstrophy, (b) modify the fluid energy spectrum both in inverse- and
forward-cascade regimes, (c) reduce small-scale intermittency, (d) suppress
regions of large vorticity and strain rate, and (e) stretch in strain-dominated
regions. We compare our results with earlier experimental studies; and we
propose new experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure
