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Scalar diffusion in simulated helical turbulence with molecular diffusivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

I. T. Drummond
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW
S. Duane
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW
R. R. Horgan
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge CB3 9EW

Abstract

We extend the simulation techniques of Kraichnan (1970, 1976) to study the effective diffusivity of a scalar field in a turbulent fluid. In our model we have introduced an adjustable helicity parameter and a technique for simulating molecular diffusivity. The results show that for non-helical turbulence the self-consistent perturbation theory of Phythian & Curtis (1978) gives excellent values for the effective diffusivity over a wide range of values for both the molecular diffusivity and the parameters describing the turbulence.

This ceases to be the case immediately the helicity is given a non-zero value. Wide departures are observed between the theoretical calculation and the simulation. Our conclusion is that non-perturbative effects are very important in the presence of helicity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1984 Cambridge University Press

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References

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