Variable energy flux in turbulence

TL;DR

This review discusses how energy flux varies across scales in different turbulent systems and how this variability influences the energy spectrum, contrasting with classical Kolmogorov turbulence.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding variable energy flux in diverse turbulent phenomena beyond classical turbulence theories.

Findings

Energy flux $\Pi_u$ varies with scale in multiscale turbulence.

Energy spectrum steepens in magnetofluid, stratified, and MHD turbulence.

Energy spectrum flattens or increases with wavenumber in convection and shear turbulence.

Abstract

In three-dimensional hydrodynamic turbulence forced at large length scales, a constant energy flux $ \Pi_u $ flows from large scales to intermediate scales, and then to small scales. It is well known that for multiscale energy injection and dissipation, the energy flux $\Pi_u$ varies with scales. In this review we describe this principle and show how this general framework is useful for describing a variety of turbulent phenomena. Compared to Kolmogorov's spectrum, the energy spectrum steepens in turbulence involving quasi-static magnetofluid, Ekman friction, stable stratification, magnetohydrodynamics, and solution with dilute polymer. However, in turbulent thermal convection, in unstably stratified turbulence such as Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence, and in shear turbulence, the energy spectrum has an opposite behaviour due to an increase of energy flux with wavenumber. In addition, we briefly describe the role of variable energy flux in quantum turbulence, in binary-fluid turbulence including time-dependent Landau-Ginzburg and Cahn-Hillianrd equations, and in Euler turbulence.