Mutual coherent structures for heat and angular momentum transport in turbulent Taylor-Couette flows

Abstract

When subjected to a radial temperature gradient, Taylor-Couette flows undergo evolution of flow states with increasing rotations: a first transition from asymmetric vertical convection to spiral vortices, and a second transition to turbulence characterized by Taylor vortices. In the latter turbulent flow state, the radial transport of heat and angular momentum exhibits a similar power-law scaling. Our data analysis of the spatial distributions of the flux densities reveals mutual turbulent structures through which both heat and angular momentum are transported efficiently.