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VERSION:2.0
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PRODID:UW-Madison-Physics-Events
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SEQUENCE:0
UID:UW-Physics-Event-1638
DTSTART:20091012T193000Z
DURATION:PT1H0M0S
DTSTAMP:20260422T145319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20090917T144141Z
LOCATION:5310 Chamberlin
SUMMARY:Weak compressibility of surface wave turbulence\, R. G. Herb C
 ondensed Matter Seminar\, Marija Vucelja\, Weizmann Institute of Scien
 ce
DESCRIPTION:Clustering of matter on the surface of lakes and pools and
  of oil slicks and seaweed on the sea surface is well-known empiricall
 y but there is no theory that describes it. Since surface flows are al
 ways compressible\, such a theory should be based on the description o
 f the development of density of inhomogeneities in a compressible flow
 .  We studied the growth of small-scale inhomogeneities in the density
  of particles floating in weakly nonlinear small-amplitude surface wav
 es. Despite the small amplitude\, the accumulated effect of the long-t
 ime evolution may produce a strongly inhomogeneous distribution of the
  floaters: density fluctuations grow exponentially with a small but fi
 nite exponent. We have shown that the exponent is of sixth or higher o
 rder in wave amplitude. As a result\, the inhomogeneities do not form 
 within typical time scales of the natural environment. Thus the turbul
 ence of surface waves is weakly compressible and alone it cannot be a 
 realistic mechanism of the clustering of matter on liquid surfaces. Ho
 wever if besides waves there are also currents\, the interplay of wave
 s with currents\, might be in some cases responsible for the patchines
 s of the floaters.
URL:https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/?id=1638
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