Euler fluid in two dimensions: Statistical approach.

Abstract

We use Kirchhoff's vortex formulation of 2D Euler fluid equationsto explore the equilibrium state to which a 2D incompressible fluid relaxes from an arbitrary initial flow. The vortex dynamics obeys Hamilton's equationsof motion with x and y coordinates of the vortex position forming a conjugate pair. A state of fluid can, therefore, be expressed in terms of an infinite number of infinitesimal vortices. If the vortex dynamics is mixing, the final equilibrium state of the fluid should correspond to the maximum of Boltzmann entropy, with the constraint that all the Casimir invariants of the fluid must be preserved. This is the fundamental assumption of Lynden-Bell's theory of collisionless relaxation. In this paper, we will present a Monte Carlo method which allows us to find the maximum entropy state of the fluid starting from an arbitrary initial condition. We will then compare this prediction with the results of molecular dynamics simulation and demonstrate that the final state to which the fluid evolves is, actually, very different from that corresponding to the maximum of entropy. This indicates that the mixing assumption is not correct. We will then present a different approach based on core-halo distribution which allows us to accurately predict the final state to which the fluid will relax, starting from an arbitrary initial condition.