Vortex cluster arising from an axisymmetric inertial wave attractor

TL;DR

This study experimentally investigates the non-linear dynamics of an inertial wave attractor in an axisymmetric rotating fluid, revealing the formation of a vortex cluster and cyclonic-anticyclonic asymmetry over long time scales.

Contribution

It introduces the first experimental observation of vortex cluster formation from an inertial wave attractor in an axisymmetric geometry, highlighting non-linear energy cascades and vortex precession.

Findings

Vortex clusters form after about 100 forcing periods.

A persistent slow prograde motion of the vortex system is observed.

A cyclonic-anticyclonic asymmetry develops over time.

Abstract

We present an experimental study of the saturated non-linear dynamics of an inertial wave attractor in an axisymmetric geometrical setting. The experiments are carried out in a rotating ring-shaped fluid domain delimited by two vertical coaxial cylinders, a conical bottom, and a horizontal deformable upper lid as wave generator: the meridional cross-section of the fluid volume is a trapezium, while the horizontal cross-section is a ring. First, the fluid is set into a rigid-body rotation. Thereafter, forcing is introduced into the system via axisymmetric low-amplitude volume-conserving oscillatory motion of the upper lid. After a short transient of about 10 forcing periods, a quasi-linear regime is established, with an axisymmetric inertial wave attractor. The attractor is prone to instability: at long time-scale (order 100 forcing periods) a saturated fully non-linear regime develops as a consequence of an energy cascade draining energy towards a slow two-dimensional manifold represented by a regular polygonal system of axially-oriented cyclonic vortices that are slowly precessing around the inner cylinder. We show that this slow two-dimensional manifold manifests a persistent slow prograde motion and a strong cyclonic-anticyclonic asymmetry quantified by the time-evolution of the probability density function of the vertical vorticity.