Experimental evidence of random shock-wave intermittency

TL;DR

This paper presents experimental evidence of shock-wave intermittency on a fluid surface, showing intense small-scale fluctuations consistent with a Burgers-like model, which could impact various scientific fields.

Contribution

First experimental demonstration of shock-wave intermittency on a fluid surface using magnetic fluids under high magnetic fields, aligning with Burgers-like turbulence models.

Findings

Intermittency observed in shock-dominated surface waves.

Small-scale fluctuations are more intense than in classical turbulence.

Statistical properties match Burgers-like intermittency predictions.

Abstract

We report the experimental observation of intermittency in a regime dominated by random shock waves on the surface of a fluid. We achieved such a nondispersive surface-wave field using a magnetic fluid subjected to a high external magnetic field. We found that the small-scale intermittency of the wave-amplitude fluctuations is due to shock waves, leading to much more intense intermittency than previously reported in three-dimensional hydrodynamics turbulence or in wave turbulence. The statistical properties of intermittency are found to be in good agreement with the predictions of a Burgerslike intermittency model. Such experimental evidence of random shock-wave intermittency could lead to applications in various fields.