Implications of the Monin-Yaglom Relation for Rayleigh-Taylor Turbulence

Abstract

The aim of this letter is to assess existing theories for Rayleigh-Taylor small turbulent scales. For this purpose, we propose to adapt the Monin-Yaglom relation to the Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence context. A special emphasis is put on the inhomogeneity of the flow and on the effect of buoyancy forces. This relation is then used to show that, among existing theories, the standard Kolmogorov-Obukhov theory should apply to Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence in the limit of a large Reynolds number, large times, and small scales.