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Itamar Procaccia

Publications and source records attributed to Itamar Procaccia.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
arXiv2000

Conformal Dynamics of Fractal Growth Patterns Without Randomness

Many models of fractal growth patterns (like Diffusion Limited Aggregation and Dielectric Breakdown Models) combine complex geometry with randomness; this double difficulty is a stumbling block to their elucidation. In this paper we introduce a wide class of fractal growth models with highly complex geometry but without any randomness in their growth rules. The models are defined in terms of deterministic itineraries of iterated conformal maps, automatically generating the global conformal function which maps the exterior of the unit circle to the exterior of a n-particle growing aggregate. The complexity of the evolving interfaces is fully contained in the deterministic dynamics of the conformal map. We focus attention to a class of growth models in which the itinerary is quasiperiodic. Such itineraries can be approached via a series of rational approximants. The analytic power gained is used to introduce a scaling theory of the fractal growth patterns. We explain the mechanism for the fractality of the clusters and identify the exponent that determines the fractal dimension.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv1999

Dynamics of Finger Formation in Laplacian Growth without Surface Tension

We study the dynamics of "finger" formation in Laplacian growth without surface tension in a channel geometry (the Saffman-Taylor problem). Carefully determining the role of boundary geometry, we construct field equations of motion, these central to the analytic power we can here exercise. We consider an explicit analytic class of maps to the physical space, a basis of solutions for infinite fluid in an infinitely long channel, characterized by meromorphic derivatives. We verify that these maps never lose analyticity in the course of temporal evolution, thus justifying the underlying machinery. However, the great bulk of these solutions can lose conformality in time, this the circumstance of finite-time singularities. By considerations of the nature of the analyticity of all these solutions, we show that those free of such singularities inevitably result in a {\em single} asymptotic "finger". This is purely nonlinear behavior: the very early "finger" actually already has a waist, this having signalled the end of any linear regime. The single "finger" has nevertheless an arbitrary width determined by initial conditions. This is in contradiction with the experimental results that indicate selection of a finger of width 1/2. In the last part of this paper we motivate that such a solution can be determined by the boundary conditions when the fluid is finite. This is a strong signal that {\em finiteness} is determinative of pattern selection.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1999

Anomalous Scaling in the Anisotropic Sectors of the Kriachnan Model of Passive Scalar Advection

Kraichnan's model of passive scalar advection is studied as a case model for understanding the anomalous scaling in the anisotropic sectors. We show here that the solutions of the Kraichnan equation for the $n$ order correlations foliate into sectors that are classified by the irreducible representations of the SO(d) group. We find a discrete spectrum of universal anomalous exponents in every sector. Generically the correlations and structure functions appear as sums over all the contributions, with non-universal amplitudes which are determined by the anisotropic boundary conditions. The isotropic sector is always characterized by the smallest exponent, and therefore for sufficiently small scales local isotropy is always restored. The calculation of the anomalous exponents is done in two complementary ways. In the first they are obtained from the analysis of correlations of gradient fields. The corresponding theory involves the control of logarithmic divergences which translate into anomalous scaling with the ratio of the inner and the outer scales appearing in the final result. In the second way we compute the exponents from the zero modes of the Kraichnan equation for the correlations of the scalar field itself. In this case the renormalization scale is the outer scale. The two approaches lead to the same scaling exponents for the same statistical objects, illuminating the relative role of the outer and inner scales as renormalization scales. We derive fusion rules which govern the small scale asymptotics of the correlation functions in the sectors of the symmetry group, in all dimensions.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1999

The Scaling Structure of the Velocity Statistics in Atmospheric Boundary Layer

The statistical objects characterizing turbulence in real turbulent flows differ from those of the ideal homogeneous isotropic model.They containcontributions from various 2d and 3d aspects, and from the superposition ofinhomogeneous and anisotropic contributions. We employ the recently introduceddecomposition of statistical tensor objects into irreducible representations of theSO(3) symmetry group (characterized by $j$ and $m$ indices), to disentangle someof these contributions, separating the universal and the asymptotic from the specific aspects of the flow. The different $j$ contributions transform differently under rotations and so form a complete basis in which to represent the tensor objects under study. The experimental data arerecorded with hot-wire probes placed at various heights in the atmospheric surfacelayer. Time series data from single probes and from pairs of probes are analyzed to compute the amplitudes and exponents of different contributions to the second order statistical objects characterized by $j=0$, $j=1$ and $j=2$. The analysis shows the need to make a careful distinction between long-lived quasi 2d turbulent motions (close to the ground) and relatively short-lived 3d motions. We demonstrate that the leading scaling exponents in the three leading sectors ($j = 0, 1, 2$) appear to be different butuniversal, independent of the positions of the probe, and the large scaleproperties. The measured values of the exponent are $ζ^{(j=0)}_2=0.68 \pm 0.01$, $ζ^{(j=1)}_2=1.0\pm 0.15$ and $ζ^{(j=2)}_2=1.38 \pm 0.10$. We present theoretical arguments for the values of these exponents usingthe Clebsch representation of the Euler equations; neglecting anomalous corrections, the values obtained are 2/3, 1 and 4/3 respectively.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1999

Temporal surrogates of spatial turbulent statistics: the Taylor hypothesis revisted

The Taylor hypothesis which allows surrogating spatial measurements requiring many experimental probes by time series from one or two probes is examined on the basis of a simple analytic model of turbulent statistics. The main points are as follows: (i) The Taylor hypothesis introduces systematic errors in the evaluation of scaling exponents. (ii) When the mean wind $\bar{V}_0$ is not infinitely larger than the root-mean-square longitudinal turbulent fluctuations $v_T$, the effective Taylor advection velocity $V_{ad}$ should take the latter into account. (iii) When two or more probes are employed the application of the Taylor hypothesis and the optimal choice of the effective advecting wind $V_{ad}$ need extra care. We present practical considerations for minimizing the errors incurred in experiments using one or two probes. (iv) Analysis of the Taylor hypothesis when different probes experience different mean winds is offered.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1999

Anomalous Scaling in a Model of Hydrodynamic Turbulence with a Small Parameter

The major difficulty in developing theories for anomalous scaling in hydrodynamic turbulence is the lack of a small parameter. In this Letter we introduce a shell model of turbulence that exhibits anomalous scaling with a tunable small parameter. The small parameter $ε$ represents the ratio between deterministic and random components in the coupling between $N$ identical copies of the turbulent field. We show that in the limit $N\to \infty$ anomalous scaling sets in proportional to $ε^4$. Moreover we give strong evidences that the birth of anomalous scaling appears at a finite critical $ε$, being $ε_c\approx 0.6$.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1998

Conformal Theory of the Dimensions of Diffusion Limited Aggregates

We employ the recently introduced conformal iterative construction of Diffusion Limited Aggregates (DLA) to study the multifractal properties of the harmonic measure. The support of the harmonic measure is obtained from a dynamical process which is complementary to the iterative cluster growth. We use this method to establish the existence of a series of random scaling functions that yield, via the thermodynamic formalism of multifractals, the generalized dimensions D(q) of DLA for q >= 1. The scaling function is determined just by the last stages of the iterative growth process which are relevant to the complementary dynamics. Using the scaling relation D(3) = D(0)/2 we estimate the fractal dimension of DLA to be D(0) = 1.69 +- 0.03.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1998

Diffusion Limited Aggregation and Iterated Conformal Maps

The creation of fractal clusters by diffusion limited aggregation (DLA) is studied by using iterated stochastic conformal maps following the method proposed recently by Hastings and Levitov. The object of interest is the function $Φ^{(n)}$ which conformally maps the exterior of the unit circle to the exterior of an $n$-particle DLA. The map $Φ^{(n)}$ is obtained from $n$ stochastic iterations of a function $ϕ$ that maps the unit circle to the unit circle with a bump. The scaling properties usually studied in the literature on DLA appear in a new light using this language. The dimension of the cluster is determined by the linear coefficient in the Laurent expansion of $Φ^{(n)}$, which asymptotically becomes a deterministic function of $n$. We find new relationships between the generalized dimensions of the harmonic measure and the scaling behavior of the Laurent coefficients.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1998

Continued Fraction Representation of Temporal Multi Scaling in Turbulence

It was shown recently that the anomalous scaling of simultaneous correlation functions in turbulence is intimately related to the breaking of temporal scale invariance, which is equivalent to the appearance of infinitely many times scales in the time dependence of time-correlation functions. In this paper we derive a continued fraction representation of turbulent time correlation functions which is exact and in which the multiplicity of time scales is explicit. We demonstrate that this form yields precisely the same scaling laws for time derivatives and time integrals as the "multi-fractal" representation that was used before. Truncating the continued fraction representation yields the "best" estimates of time correlation functions if the given information is limited to the scaling exponents of the simultaneous correlation functions up to a certain, finite order. It is worth noting that the derivation of a continued fraction representation obtained here for an operator which is not Hermitian or anti-Hermitian may be of independent interest.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1998

Correlation functions in isotropic and anisotropic turbulence: the role of the symmetry group

The theory of fully developed turbulence is usually considered in an idealized homogeneous and isotropic state. Real turbulent flows exhibit the effects of anisotropic forcing. The analysis of correlation functions and structure functions in isotropic and anisotropic situations is facilitated and made rational when performed in terms of the irreducible representations of the relevant symmetry group which is the group of all rotations SO(3). In this paper we firstly consider the needed general theory and explain why we expect different (universal) scaling exponents in the different sectors of the symmetry group. We exemplify the theory context of isotropic turbulence (for third order tensorial structure functions) and in weakly anisotropic turbulence (for the second order structure function). The utility of the resulting expressions for the analysis of experimental data is demonstrated in the context of high Reynolds number measurements of turbulence in the atmosphere.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1998

Anomalous Scaling from Controlled Closure in a Shell Model of Turbulence

We present a model of hydrodynamic turbulence for which the program of computing the scaling exponents from first principles can be developed in a controlled fashion. The model consists of $N$ suitably coupled copies of the "Sabra" shell model of turbulence. The couplings are chosen to include two components: random and deterministic, with a relative importance that is characterized by a parameter called $ε$. It is demonstrated, using numerical simulations of up to 25 copies and 28 shells that in the $N\to \infty$ limit but for $0<ε\le 1$ this model exhibits correlation functions whose scaling exponents are anomalous. The theoretical calculation of the scaling exponents follows verbatim the closure procedure suggested recently for the Navier-Stokes problem, with the additional advantage that in the $N\to \infty$ limit the parameter $ε$ can be used to regularize the closure procedure. The main result of this paper is a finite and closed set of scale-invariant equations for the 2nd and 3rd order statistical objects of the theory. This set of equations takes into account terms up to order $ε^4$ and neglects terms of order $ε^6$. Preliminary analysis of this set of equations indicates a K41 normal scaling at $ε= 0 $, with a birth of anomalous exponents at larger values of $ε$, in agreement with the numerical simulations.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1998

The Extraction of Anisotropic Contributions in Turbulent Flows

We analyze turbulent velocity signals measured by two probes in the atmosphere, both at the height of 35 meters but displaced by 40 cm nominally orthogonal to the mean wind. Choosing a suitable coordinate system with respect to that of the mean wind, we derive theoretical forms for second order structure functions, and fit them to experimental data. We show that the effect of flow anisotropy is small on the longitudinal component but significant on the transverse component. The data provide an estimate of a universal exponent from among a hierarchy that governs the decay of flow anisotropy with the scale-size.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1998

An optimal shell model of turbulence

We introduce a new shell model of turbulence which exhibits improved properties in comparison to the standard (and very popular) GOY model. The nonlinear coupling is chosen to minimize correlations between different shells. In particular the second order correlation function is diagonal in the shell index, the third order correlation exists only between three consecutive shells. Spurious oscillations in the scaling regime, which are an annoying feature of the GOY model, are eliminated by our choice of nonlinear coupling. We demonstrate that the model exhibits multi-scaling similarly to these GOY model. The scaling exponents are shown to be independent of the viscous mechanism as is expected for Navier-Stokes turbulence and other shell models. These properties of the new model make it optimal for further attempts to achieve understanding of multi-scaling in nonlinear dynamics.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1998

Anomalous scaling in passive scalar advection: Monte-Carlo Lagrangian trajectories

We present a numerical method which is used to calculate anomalous scaling exponents of structure functions in the Kraichnan passive scalar advection model (R. H. Kraichnan, Phys. Fluids {\bf11}, 945 (1968)). This Monte-Carlo method, which is applicable in any space dimension, is based on the Lagrangian path interpretation of passive scalar dynamics, and uses the recently discovered equivalence between scaling exponents of structure functions and relaxation rates in the stochastic shape dynamics of groups of Lagrangian particles. We calculate third and fourth order anomalous exponents for several dimensions, comparing with the predictions of perturbative calculations in large dimensions. We find that Kraichnan's closure appears to give results in close agreement with the numerics. The third order exponents are compatible with our own previous nonperturbative calculations.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv1998

Universal scaling exponents in shell models of turbulence: Viscous effects are finite-size corrections to scaling

In a series of recent works it was proposed that shell models of turbulence exhibit inertial range scaling exponents that depend on the nature of the dissipative mechanism. If true, and if one could imply a similar phenomenon to Navier-Stokes turbulence, this finding would cast strong doubts on the universality of scaling in turbulence. In this Letter we propose that these ``nonuniversalities'' are just corrections to scaling that disappear when the Reynolds number goes to infinity.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1997

Dissipative Scaling Functions in Navier-Stokes Turbulence: Experimental Tests

A recent theoretical development in the understanding of the small-scale structure of Navier-Stokes turbulence has been the proposition that the scales $η_n(R)$ that separate inertial from viscous behavior of many-point correlation functions depend on the order $n$ and on the typical separations $R$ of points in the correlation. This is a proposal of fundamental significance in itself but it also has implications for the inertial range scaling behaviour of various correlation functions. This dependence has never been observed directly in laboratory experiments. In order to observe it, turbulence data which both display a well-developed scaling range with clean scaling behaviour and are well-resolved in the small scales to well within the viscous range is required. We have analysed the data of the experiments performed in the laboratory of P. Tabeling of Navier-Stokes turbulence in a helium cell with counter-rotating disks, and find that this data satisfies these criteria. We have been able to find strong evidence for the existence of the predicted scaling of the viscous scale.

chao-dyn↗
arXiv1997

Invariant Measures in Generic Dynamical Systems

Irreversible thermodynamics of simple fluids have been connected recently to the theory of dynamical systems and some interesting assumptions have been made about the nature of the associated invariant measures. We show that the tests of validity of these assumptions are insufficient by exhibiting observables that are incorrectly sampled with the proposed invariant measures. Only observables belonging to the "high temperature phase" of the thermodynamic formalism are insensitive to the sampling methods. We outline methods that are free of these deficiencies.

chao-dyn↗