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Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 124501 (2003) [4 pages]

Mean Effects of Turbulence on Elliptic Instability in Fluids

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Bruce R. Fabijonas1 and Darryl D. Holm2,3
1Department of Mathematics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275
2Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
3Mathematics Department, Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom

Received 19 August 2002; published 26 March 2003

Elliptic instability in fluids is discussed in the context of the Lagrangian-averaged Navier-Stokes-alpha (LANS-α) turbulence model. This model preserves the Craik-Criminale (CC) family of solutions consisting of a columnar eddy and a Kelvin wave. The LANS-α model is shown to preserve elliptic instability. However, the model shifts the critical stability angle. This shift increases (decreases) the maximum growth rate for long (short) waves. It also introduces a band of stable CC solutions for short waves.


©2003 The American Physical Society

URL: http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.124501
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.124501
PACS: 47.20.Cq, 47.20.Ft, 47.27.Eq, 47.32.Cc

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