Fluid Mechanics and Waves Seminar - Spring 2020

Pavel Lushnikov, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico

Motion of Complex Singularities and Hamiltonian Integrability of Surface Dynamics

A motion of fluid's free surface is considered in two dimensional (2D) geometry. A time-dependent conformal transformation maps a fluid domain into the lower complex half-plane of a new spatial variable. The fluid dynamics is fully characterized by the complex singularities in the upper complex half-plane of the conformal map and the complex velocity. Both a single ideal fluid dynamics (corresponds e.g. to oceanic waves dynamics) and a dynamics of superfluid Helium 4 with two fluid components are considered. Both systems share the same type of the non-canonical Hamiltonian structure. A superfluid Helium case is shown to be completely integrable for the zero gravity and surface tension limit with the exact reduction to the Laplace growth equation which is completely integrable through the connection to the dispersionless limit of the integrable Toda hierarchy and existence of the infinite set of complex pole solutions. A single fluid case with nonzero gravity and surface tension turns more complicated with the infinite set of new moving poles solutions found which are however unavoidably coupled with the emerging moving branch points in the upper half-plane. Residues of poles are the constants of motion. These constants commute with each other in the sense of underlying non-canonical Hamiltonian dynamics. It suggests that the existence of these extra constants of motion provides an argument in support of the conjecture of complete Hamiltonian integrability of 2D free surface hydrodynamics.

Stephane Perrard, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Département de Physique

Surface Wave Generation by Turbulent Flows

In the context of ocean-atmosphere interactions, many physical processes involve the generation of surface waves by turbulent background flows in air or in water. Although the dynamics of turbulent flows is only partly understood, I have recently shown that interfacial dynamics generated by turbulent flows can be quantitatively described in some cases. I will illustrate the pathway using two examples : the premices of surface waves generated by the wind, and the fragmentation of a single bubble in a turbulent background flow. I will eventually discuss how this approach could renew our understanding of wave dynamics at high Reynolds number.

Canceled

Canceled