Single Fourier Mode Research Articles

Hydrodynamics of a relativistic charged fluid in the presence of a periodically modulated chemical potential

We study charged hydrodynamics in a periodic lattice background. Fluctuations are Bloch waves rather than single momentum Fourier modes. At boundaries of the unit cell where hydrodynamic fluctuations are formally degenerate with their Umklapped copy, level repulsion occurs. Novel mode mixings between charge, sound, and their Umklapped copies appear at finite chemical potential - both at zero and finite momentum. We provide explicit examples for an ionic lattice, i.e. a periodic external chemical potential, and verify our results with numerical computations in fluid-gravity duality.

Propulsion due to thermal streaming

We demonstrate that the relative motion of horizontal parallel plates can be generated using patterned heating. This movement is driven by nonlinear thermal streaming associated with a pitchfork bifurcation. The propulsive effect is strongest when all the heating energy is concentrated in a single Fourier mode of the spatial heating pattern; it increases with a decrease in the Prandtl number and increases with the addition of a uniform heating component.

Patterned convection in inclined slots

An analysis of laminar natural convection in inclined slots subjected to patterned heating has been performed. The imposed heating takes a simple form characterized by a single Fourier mode combined with uniform heating. It is shown that periodic heating applied at the lower plate produces no net flow when the slot is either horizontal or vertical, but a net upward flow is generated when the slot is tilted. Periodic heating applied at the upper plate produces net downward flow in the inclined situation. The addition of uniform heating promotes the upward flow while cooling has the opposite effect. There is a critical inclination angle at which the maximum net flow rate is greatest. Dynamic and thermal boundary layers are present when the wavenumber of the imposed heating is large. The use of heating at both plates, with the same wavenumber, leads to a flow dominated by the plate exposed to a more intense heating; when the two plates are heated equally no net flow is observed irrespective of the inclination angle. Changes of the relative positions of the two patterns can change the net flow rate by up to 50 %. The intensity of the flow increases with reduction of the Prandtl number. If the heating applied to the plates is of different wavelength, but of the same intensity, a wide range of behaviours of the flow system is possible. The details of this response are sensitive to the ratio of the two wavenumbers.

Equilibria and condensates in Rossby and drift wave turbulence

We study the thermodynamic equilibrium spectra of the Charney–Hasegawa–Mima (CHM) equation in its weakly nonlinear limit. In this limit, the equation has three adiabatic invariants, in contrast to the two invariants of the 2D Euler or Gross–Pitaevskii equations, which are examples for comparison. We explore how the third invariant considerably enriches the variety of equilibrium spectra that the CHM system can access. In particular we characterise the singular limits of these spectra in which condensates occur, i.e. a single Fourier mode (or pair of modes) accumulate(s) a macroscopic fraction of the total invariants. We show that these equilibrium condensates provide a simple explanation for the characteristic structures observed in CHM systems of finite size: highly anisotropic zonal flows, large-scale isotropic vortices, and vortices at small scale. We show how these condensates are associated with combinations of negative thermodynamic potentials (e.g. temperature).

The effects of multiple modes and reduced symmetry on the rapidity and robustness of slow contraction

We demonstrate that the rapidity and robustness of slow contraction in homogenizing and flattening the universe found in simulations in which the initial conditions were restricted to non-perturbative variations described by a single Fourier mode along only a single spatial direction are in general enhanced if the initial variations are along two spatial directions, include multiple modes, and thereby have reduced symmetry. Particularly significant are shear effects that only become possible when variations are allowed along two or more spatial dimensions. Based on the numerical results, we conjecture that the counterintuitive enhancement occurs because more degrees of freedom are activated which drive spacetime away from an unstable Kasner fixed point and towards the stable Friedmann-Robertson-Walker fixed point.

Solitons in a Box-Shaped Wave Field with Noise: Perturbation Theory and Statistics.

We investigate the fundamental problem of the nonlinear wave field scattering data corrections in response to a perturbation of initial condition using inverse scattering transform theory. We present a complete theoretical linear perturbation framework to evaluate first-order corrections of the full set of the scattering data within the integrable one-dimensional focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). The general scattering data portrait reveals nonlinear coherent structures-solitons-playing the key role in the wave field evolution. Applying the developed theory to a classic box-shaped wave field, we solve the derived equations analytically for a single Fourier mode acting as a perturbation to the initial condition, thus, leading to the sensitivity closed-form expressions for basic soliton characteristics, i.e., the amplitude, velocity, phase, and its position. With the appropriate statistical averaging, we model the soliton noise-induced effects resulting in compact relations for standard deviations of soliton parameters. Relying on a concept of a virtual soliton eigenvalue, we derive the probability of a soliton emergence or the opposite due to noise and illustrate these theoretical predictions with direct numerical simulations of the NLSE evolution. The presented framework can be generalized to other integrable systems and wave field patterns.

Assessment of Upwind/Symmetric WENO Schemes for Direct Numerical Simulation of Screech Tone in Supersonic Jet

Screech tones are the high intensity shock-associated noise with discrete frequency in imperfectly supersonic jet. Accuracte numerical simulation of shock-associated noise requires numerical scheme with high order accuracy, low dissipation and low dispersion as well as robust shock-capturing ability. The applicability of eight kinds of upwind/symmetric WENO schemes for the direct numerical simulation of screech tone is evaluated through comparison study on the spectral characteristics and direct numerical simulations of underexpanded supersonic cold jet issuing from circular sonic nozzle. The spectral characteristics based on the approximate dispersion relation shows that the adaptive central-upwind (WENO-SYMCU-6) scheme has the best resolution and the minimum value of point-per-wavelength. However, the comparison of nonlinear response indicates that the improved upwind WENO-ZM-5 ( $$p=1$$ ) scheme has almost the weakest nonlinear response for the single Fourier mode. And the performances in the direct numerical simulations also show that the WENO-ZM-5 ( $$p=1$$ ) scheme is the best. With this method, not only the screech tones of the high amplitude axisymmetric mode are obtained, but also a variety of high-frequency coupling modes with the highest amplitudes can be distinguished in a wider spectrum range. And there is no nonphysical high-frequency wave induced by the nonlinear implementation of WENO schemes at the near region of the nozzle exit lip.

Oblique and streamwise vortex paths in a plane Couette flow using a RNL system

This paper revisits oblique wave and streamwise vortex scenarios in a plane Couette flow using restricted nonlinear simulations, where only a single Fourier mode for perturbation is retained. It is shown that this restriction of full dynamics gives a good approximation of the two subcritical paths. In particular, critical energy thresholds and edge states compare favorably with results obtained using direct numerical simulations by Duguet et al. (Phys. Rev. E 82 (2010), 026316).

Active shape oscillations of giant vesicles with cyclic closure and opening of membrane necks.

Reaction-diffusion systems encapsulated within giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) can lead to shape oscillations of these vesicles as recently observed for the bacterial Min protein system. This system contains two Min proteins, MinD and MinE, which periodically attach to and detach from the GUV membranes, with the detachment being driven by ATP hydrolysis. Here, we address these shape oscillations within the theoretical framework of curvature elasticity and show that they can be understood in terms of a spontaneous curvature that changes periodically with time. We focus on the simplest case provided by a attachment-detachment kinetics that is laterally uniform along the membrane. During each oscillation cycle, the vesicle shape is transformed from a symmetric dumbbell with two subcompartments of equal size to an asymmetric dumbbell with two subcompartments of different size, followed by the reverse, symmetry-restoring transformation. This sequence of shapes is first analyzed within the spontaneous curvature model which is then extended to the area-difference-elasticity model by decomposing the spontaneous curvature into a local and nonlocal component. For both symmetric and asymmetric dumbbells, the two subcompartments are connected by a narrow membrane neck with a circular waistline. The radius of this waistline undergoes periodic oscillations, the time dependence of which can be reasonably well fitted by a single Fourier mode with an average time period of 56 s.

Restricted optimal paths to transition in a plane Couette flow

To identify laminar/turbulent transition paths in plane Couette flow, a variational formulation incorporating a restricted nonlinear (RNL) system that retains a single streamwise Fourier mode, is used. Considering the flow geometry originally used by Monokrousos et al. (2011) and Duguet et al. (2013) and the same Reynolds numbers (Re), we show that initial perturbations obtained by RNL optimizations exhibit spatial localization. Two optimal states are found with comparable initial energy levels above which the flow structure evolves to turbulence. It is found that this level is twice that of the minimal threshold energy which has been obtained using the full nonlinear equations (Duguet et al. (2013)). Especially, the Re dependence of energy thresholds is studied within a RNL optimization framework for the first time, with evidence for a ORe−2.65 scaling close to the one found using the full Navier–Stokes equations (ORe−2.7). The first state is obtained for a short target time. It is symmetric with respect to the mid-plane y=0 and spanwise localized. For a long target time, the optimal appears to be localized in both spanwise and wall-normal directions. The mechanisms highlighted within the scope of nonlinear nonmodal theory (Kerswell (2018)): Orr mechanism, oblique wave interaction, lift-up, streak breakdown, localized pocket of turbulence and turbulence spreading, are also observed in the RNL simulations. Although greatly simplified, the RNL system provides a good approximation of these different fundamental mechanisms. The analysis gives then some insight into the potential of RNL optimizations for estimating Re scaling laws and routes to turbulence for shear flows.

Experimental investigation of the turbulent cascade development by injection of single large-scale Fourier modes

The current work presents an experimental investigation of the dynamic interactions between flow scales caused by repeated actions of the nonlinear term of the Navier-Stokes equation. Injecting a narrow band oscillation, representing a single Fourier mode, into a round jet flow allows the measurement of the downstream generation and development of higher harmonic spectral components and to measure when these components are eventually absorbed into fully developed turbulence. Furthermore, the dynamic evolution of the measured power spectra observed corresponds well to the measured cascaded delays reported by others. Closely matching spectral development and cascade delays have also been derived directly from a one-dimensional solution of the Navier-Stokes equation described in a companion paper. The results in the current work provide vital information about how initial conditions influence development of the shape of the spectrum and about the extent of the time scales in the triad interaction process, which should be of significance to turbulence modelers.

Computing exact coherent states in channels starting from the laminar profile: A resolvent-based approach

We present an iterative method to compute traveling wave exact coherent states (ECS) in Couette and Poiseuille flows starting from an initial laminar profile. The approach utilizes the resolvent operator for a two-dimensional, three-component streamwise-averaged mean and exploits the underlying physics of the self-sustaining process. A singular value decomposition of the resolvent operator is used to obtain the mode shape for a single streamwise-varying Fourier mode. The self-interaction of the single mode is computed and used to generate an updated mean velocity input to the resolvent operator. The process is repeated until a nearly neutrally stable mean flow that self-sustains is obtained, as defined by suitable convergence criteria; the results are further verified with direct numerical simulation. The approach requires the specification of only two unknown parameters: the wave speed and amplitude of the mode. It is demonstrated that within as few as three iterations, the initial one-dimensional laminar field can be transformed into three-dimensional ECS.

Restricted nonlinear model for high- and low-drag events in plane channel flow

A restricted nonlinear (RNL) model, obtained by partitioning the state variables into streamwise-averaged quantities and superimposed perturbations, is used in order to track the exact coherent state in plane channel flow investigated by Toh & Itano (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 481, 2003, pp. 67–76). When restricting nonlinearities to quadratic interaction of the fluctuating part into the streamwise-averaged component, it is shown that the coherent structure and its dynamics closely match results from direct numerical simulation (DNS), even if only a single streamwise Fourier mode is retained. In particular, both solutions exhibit long quiescent phases, spanwise shifts and bursting events. It is also shown that the dynamical trajectory passes close to equilibria that exhibit either low- or high-drag states. When statistics are collected at times where the friction velocity peaks, the mean flow and root-mean-square profiles show the essential features of wall turbulence obtained by DNS for the same friction Reynolds number. For low-drag events, the mean flow profiles are related to a universal asymptotic state called maximum drag reduction (Xi & Graham, Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 108, 2012, 028301). Hence, the intermittent nature of self-sustaining processes in the buffer layer is contained in the dynamics of the RNL model, organized in two exact coherent states plus an asymptotic turbulent-like attractor. We also address how closely turbulent dynamics approaches these equilibria by exploiting a DNS database associated with a larger domain.

Towards an Unstaggered Finite‐Volume Dynamical Core With a Fast Riemann Solver: 1‐D Linearized Analysis of Dissipation, Dispersion, and Noise Control

AbstractMany computational fluid dynamics codes use Riemann solvers on an unstaggered grid for finite volume methods, but this approach is computationally expensive compared to existing atmospheric dynamical cores equipped with hyper‐diffusion or other similar relatively simple diffusion forms. We present a simplified Low Mach number Approximate Riemann Solver (LMARS), made computationally efficient through assumptions appropriate for atmospheric flows: low Mach number, weak discontinuities, and locally uniform sound speed. This work will examine the dissipative and dispersive properties of LMARS using Von Neumann linearized analysis to the one‐dimensional linearized shallow water equations. We extend these analyses to higher‐order methods by numerically solving the Fourier‐transformed equations. It is found that the pros and cons due to grid staggering choices diminish with high‐order schemes. The linearized analysis is limited to modal, smooth solutions using simple numerical schemes, and cannot analyze solutions with discontinuities. To address this problem, this work presents a new idealized test of a discontinuous wave packet, a single Fourier mode modulated by a discontinuous square wave. The experiments include studies of well‐resolved and (near) grid‐scale wave profiles, as well as the representation of discontinuous features and the results are validated against the Von Neumann analysis. We find the higher‐order LMARS produces much less numerical noise than do inviscid unstaggered and especially staggered schemes while retaining accuracy for better‐resolved modes.

Transition to Turbulent Dynamo Saturation.

While the saturated magnetic energy is independent of viscosity in dynamo experiments, it remains viscosity dependent in state-of-the-art 3D direct numerical simulations (DNS). Extrapolating such viscous scaling laws to realistic parameter values leads to an underestimation of the magnetic energy by several orders of magnitude. The origin of this discrepancy is that fully 3D DNS cannot reach low enough values of the magnetic Prandtl number Pm. To bypass this limitation and investigate dynamo saturation at very low Pm, we focus on the vicinity of the dynamo threshold in a rapidly rotating flow: the velocity field then depends on two spatial coordinates only, while the magnetic field consists of a single Fourier mode in the third direction. We perform numerical simulations of the resulting set of reduced equations for Pm down to 2×10^{-5}. This parameter regime is currently out of reach to fully 3D DNS. We show that the magnetic energy transitions from a high-Pm viscous scaling regime to a low-Pm turbulent scaling regime, the latter being independent of viscosity. The transition to the turbulent saturation regime occurs at a low value of the magnetic Prandtl number, Pm≃10^{-3}, which explains why it has been overlooked by numerical studies so far.

Cool WENO schemes

This work is dedicated to the development and comparison of WENO-type reconstructions for hyperbolic systems of balance laws. We are particularly interested in high order shock capturing non-oscillatory schemes with uniform accuracy within each cell and low spurious effects. As a tool to measure the artifacts introduced by a numerical scheme, we study the deformation of a single Fourier mode and introduce the notion of distorsive errors, which measure the amplitude of the spurious modes created by a discrete derivative operator. Further we refine this notion with the idea of temperature, in which the amplitude of the spurious modes is weighted with its distance in frequency space from the exact mode. In this analysis, linear schemes have zero temperature. Of course, in order to prevent oscillations it is necessary to introduce nonlinearities in the scheme, thus increasing their temperature. However it is important to warm up the linear scheme just enough to prevent spurious oscillations. With several tests we show that the newly introduced CWENOZ schemes are cooler than other existing WENO-type operators, while maintaining good non-oscillatory properties.

Metastable energy strata in numerical discretizations of weakly nonlinear wave equations

The quadratic nonlinear wave equation on a one-dimensional torus with small initial values located in a single Fourier mode is considered. In this situation, the formation of metastable energy strata has recently been described and their long-time stability has been shown. The topic of the present paper is the correct reproduction of these metastable energy strata by a numerical method. For symplectic trigonometric integrators applied to the equation, it is shown that these energy strata are reproduced even on long time intervals in a qualitatively correct way.

The plucked string: An example of non-normal dynamics

The motion of a single Fourier mode of the plucked string is an example of transient, free decay of linear, coupled, damped oscillators. It shares the rarely discussed features of the generic case, e.g., possessing a complete set of non-orthogonal eigenvectors and no normal modes, but it can be analyzed and solved analytically by hand in an approximation that is appropriate to musical instruments' plucked strings.

On–off intermittency and amplitude-phase synchronization in Keplerian shear flows

We study the development of coherent structures in local simulations of the magnetorotational instability in accretion discs in regimes of on–off intermittency. In a previous paper, we have shown that the laminar and bursty states due to the on–off spatiotemporal intermittency in a one-dimensional model of non-linear waves correspond, respectively, to non-attracting coherent structures with higher and lower degrees of amplitude-phase synchronization. In this paper, we extend these results to a three-dimensional model of magnetized Keplerian shear flows. Keeping the kinetic Reynolds number and the magnetic Prandtl number fixed, we investigate two different intermittent regimes by varying the plasma beta parameter. The first regime is characterized by turbulent patterns interrupted by the recurrent emergence of a large-scale coherent structure known as two-channel flow, where the state of the system can be described by a single Fourier mode. The second regime is dominated by the turbulence with sporadic emergence of coherent structures with shapes that are reminiscent of a perturbed channel flow. By computing the Fourier power and phase spectral entropies in three dimensions, we show that the large-scale coherent structures are characterized by a high degree of amplitude-phase synchronization.

Stability of Flow in a Channel with Drag Reducing Grooves

Laminar flow in a channel with longitudinal grooves is analyzed. Grooves may have an arbitrary shape but do not affect the average channel opening. It is demonstrated that there exist groove shapes that reduce the laminar drag. It is shown that the reduced geometry model based on a single Fourier mode captures the relevant flow characteristics with an acceptable accuracy. The linear stability analysis is used to determine the range of flow conditions when the flow remains laminar. The same grooves represent a certain class of surface roughness, and its effect of the critical flow conditions is of interest. It is demonstrated that the short wavelength grooves destabilize the flow while the long wavelength grooves have an opposite effect. Stability characteristics of the optimal grooves that produce the largest possible drag reduction have also been determined.