Hydrodynamic entropy and emergence of order in two-dimensional Euler turbulence

Abstract

Using numerical simulations, we show that the asymptotic states of two-dimensional (2D) Euler turbulence exhibit large-scale flow structures due to nonzero energy transfers among small wavenumber modes. These asymptotic states, which depend on the initial conditions, are out of equilibrium, and they are different from the predictions of Onsager and Kraichnan. We propose ``hydrodynamic entropy'' to quantify order in 2D Euler turbulence; we show that this entropy decreases with time, even though the system is isolated with no dissipation and no contact with a heat bath.