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Vlad Vicol

Publications and source records attributed to Vlad Vicol.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

On the Euler+Prandtl expansion for the Navier-Stokes equations

We establish the validity of the Euler$+$Prandtl approximation for solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations in the half plane with Dirichlet boundary conditions, in the vanishing viscosity limit, for initial data which are analytic only near the boundary, and Sobolev smooth away from the boundary. Our proof does not require higher order correctors, and works directly by estimating an $L^{1}$-type norm for the vorticity of the error term in the expansion Navier-Stokes$-($Euler$+$Prandtl$)$. An important ingredient in the proof is the propagation of local analyticity for the Euler equation, a result of independent interest.

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Simultaneous development of shocks and cusps for 2D Euler with azimuthal symmetry from smooth data

A fundamental question in fluid dynamics concerns the formation of discontinuous shock waves from smooth initial data. We prove that from smooth initial data, smooth solutions to the 2d Euler equations in azimuthal symmetry form a first singularity, the so-called $C^{\frac{1}{3}} $ pre-shock. The solution in the vicinity of this pre-shock is shown to have a fractional series expansion with coefficients computed from the data. Using this precise description of the pre-shock, we prove that a discontinuous shock instantaneously develops after the pre-shock. This regular shock solution is shown to be unique in a class of entropy solutions with azimuthal symmetry and regularity determined by the pre-shock expansion. Simultaneous to the development of the shock front, two other characteristic surfaces of cusp-type singularities emerge from the pre-shock. These surfaces have been termed weak discontinuities by Landau & Lifschitz [Chapter IX, §96], who conjectured some type of singular behavior of derivatives along such surfaces. We prove that along the slowest surface, all fluid variables except the entropy have $C^{1, {\frac{1}{2}} }$ one-sided cusps from the shock side, and that the normal velocity is decreasing in the direction of its motion; we thus term this surface a weak rarefaction wave. Along the surface moving with the fluid velocity, density and entropy form $C^{1, {\frac{1}{2}} }$ one-sided cusps while the pressure and normal velocity remain $C^2$; as such, we term this surface a weak contact discontinuity.

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On Moffatt's magnetic relaxation equations

We investigate the stability properties for a family of equations introduced by Moffatt to model magnetic relaxation. These models preserve the topology of magnetic streamlines, contain a cubic nonlinearity, and yet have a favorable $L^2$ energy structure. We consider the local and global in time well-posedness of these models and establish a difference between the behavior as $t\to \infty$ with respect to weak and strong norms.

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Shock formation and vorticity creation for 3d Euler

We analyze the shock formation process for the 3d non-isentropic Euler equations with the ideal gas law, in which sounds waves interact with entropy waves to produce vorticity. Building on our theory for isentropic flows in [3,4], we give a constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial data. Specifically, we prove that there exist smooth solutions to the non-isentropic Euler equations which form a generic stable shock with explicitly computable blowup time, location, and direction. This is achieved by establishing the asymptotic stability of a generic shock profile in modulated self-similar variables, controlling the interaction of wave families via: (i) pointwise bounds along Lagrangian trajectories, (ii) geometric vorticity structure, and (iii) high-order energy estimates in Sobolev spaces.

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Formation of point shocks for 3D compressible Euler

We consider the 3D isentropic compressible Euler equations with the ideal gas law. We provide a constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial datum of finite energy, with no vacuum regions, with nontrivial vorticity present at the shock, and under no symmetry assumptions. We prove that for an open set of Sobolev-class initial data which are a small $L^ \infty $ perturbation of a constant state, there exist smooth solutions to the Euler equations which form a generic stable shock in finite time. The blow up time and location can be explicitly computed, and solutions at the blow up time are smooth except for a single point, where they are of cusp-type with Hölder $C^ {\frac{1}{3}}$ regularity. Our proof is based on the use of modulated self-similar variables that are used to enforce a number of constraints on the blow up profile, necessary to establish the stability in self-similar variables of the generic shock profile.

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Weak solutions of ideal MHD which do not conserve magnetic helicity

We construct weak solutions to the ideal magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) equations which have finite total energy, and whose magnetic helicity is not a constant function of time. In view of Taylor's conjecture, this proves that there exist finite energy weak solutions to ideal MHD which cannot be attained in the infinite conductivity and zero viscosity limit. Our proof is based on a Nash-type convex integration scheme with intermittent building blocks adapted to the geometry of the MHD system.

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Formation of shocks for 2D isentropic compressible Euler

We consider the 2D isentropic compressible Euler equations, with pressure law $p(ρ) = (\sfrac{1}γ) ρ^γ$, with $γ>1$. We provide an elementary constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial datum of finite energy, with no vacuum regions, and with {nontrivial vorticity}. We prove that for initial data which has minimum slope $- {\sfrac{1}{ \eps}}$, for $ \eps>0$ taken sufficiently small relative to the $\OO(1)$ amplitude, there exist smooth solutions to the Euler equations which form a shock in time $\OO(\eps)$. The blowup time and location can be explicitly computed and solutions at the blowup time are of cusp-type, with Hölder $C^ {\sfrac{1}{3}}$ regularity. Our objective is the construction of solutions with inherent $\OO(1)$ vorticity at the shock. As such, rather than perturbing from an irrotational regime, we instead construct solutions with dynamics dominated by purely azimuthal wave motion. We consider homogenous solutions to the Euler equations and use Riemann-type variables to obtain a system of forced transport equations. Using a transformation to modulated self-similar variables and pointwise estimates for the ensuing system of transport equations, we show the global stability, in self-similar time, of a smooth blowup profile.

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Real analytic local well-posedness for the Triple Deck

The Triple Deck model is a classical high order boundary layer model that has been proposed to describe flow regimes where the Prandtl theory is expected to fail. At first sight the model appears to lose two derivatives through the pressure-displacement relation which links pressure to the tangential slip. In order to overcome this, we split the Triple Deck system into two coupled equations: a Prandtl type system on $\mathbb{H}$ and a Benjamin-Ono type equation on $\mathbb{R}$. This splitting enables us to extract a crucial leading order cancellation at the top of the lower deck. We develop a functional framework to subsequently extend this cancellation into the interior of the lower deck, which enables us to prove the local well-posedness of the model in tangentially real analytic spaces.

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The inviscid limit for the Navier-Stokes equations with data analytic only near the boundary

We address the inviscid limit for the Navier-Stokes equations in a half space, with initial datum that is analytic only close to the boundary of the domain, and has finite Sobolev regularity in the complement. We prove that for such data the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations converges in the vanishing viscosity limit to the solution of the Euler equation, on a constant time interval.

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Convex integration and phenomenologies in turbulence

In this review article we discuss a number of recent results concerning wild weak solutions of the incompressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. These results build on the groundbreaking works of De Lellis and Székelyhidi Jr., who extended Nash's fundamental ideas on $C^1$ flexible isometric embeddings, into the realm of fluid dynamics. These techniques, which go under the umbrella name convex integration, have fundamental analogies the phenomenological theories of hydrodynamic turbulence. Mathematical problems arising in turbulence (such as the Onsager conjecture) have not only sparked new interest in convex integration, but certain experimentally observed features of turbulent flows (such as intermittency) have also informed new convex integration constructions. First, we give an elementary construction of nonconservative $C^{0+}_{x,t}$ weak solutions of the Euler equations, first proven by De Lellis-Székelyhidi Jr.. Second, we present Isett's recent resolution of the flexible side of the Onsager conjecture. Here, we in fact follow the joint work of De Lellis-Székelyhidi Jr. and the authors of this paper, in which weak solutions of the Euler equations in the regularity class $C^{\frac 13-}_{x,t}$ are constructed, attaining any energy profile. Third, we give a concise proof of the authors' recent result, which proves the existence of infinitely many weak solutions of the Navier-Stokes in the regularity class $C^0_t L^{2+}_x \cap C^0_t W^{1,1+}_x$. We conclude the article by mentioning a number of open problems at the intersection of convex integration and hydrodynamic turbulence.

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Nonuniqueness of weak solutions to the Navier-Stokes equation

For initial datum of finite kinetic energy, Leray has proven in 1934 that there exists at least one global in time finite energy weak solution of the 3D Navier-Stokes equations. In this paper we prove that weak solutions of the 3D Navier-Stokes equations are not unique in the class of weak solutions with finite kinetic energy. Moreover, we prove that Holder continuous dissipative weak solutions of the 3D Euler equations may be obtained as a strong vanishing viscosity limit of a sequence of finite energy weak solutions of the 3D Navier-Stokes equations.

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Vorticity measures and the inviscid limit

We consider a sequence of Leray-Hopf weak solutions of the 2D Navier-Stokes equations on a bounded domain, in the vanishing viscosity limit. We provide sufficient conditions on the associated vorticity measures, away from the boundary, which ensure that as the viscosity vanishes the sequence converges to a weak solution of the Euler equations. These assumptions are consistent with vortex sheet solutions of the Euler equations.

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Well-posedness of the hydrostatic Navier-Stokes equations

We address the local well-posedness of the hydrostatic Navier-Stokes equations. These equations, sometimes called reduced Navier-Stokes/Prandtl, appear as a formal limit of the Navier-Stokes system in thin domains, under certain constraints on the aspect ratio and the Reynolds number. It is known that without any structural assumption on the initial data, real-analyticity is both necessary and sufficient for the local well-posedness of the system. In this paper we prove that for convex initial data, local well-posedness holds under simple Gevrey regularity.

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Vortex axisymmetrization, inviscid damping, and vorticity depletion in the linearized 2D Euler equations

Coherent vortices are often observed to persist for long times in turbulent 2D flows even at very high Reynolds numbers and are observed in experiments and computer simulations to potentially be asymptotically stable in a weak sense for the 2D Euler equations. We consider the incompressible 2D Euler equations linearized around a radially symmetric, strictly monotone decreasing vorticity distribution. For sufficiently regular data, we prove the inviscid damping of the $θ$-dependent radial and angular velocity fields with the optimal rates $\|u^r(t)\| \lesssim \langle t \rangle^{-1}$ and $\|u^θ(t)\| \lesssim \langle t \rangle^{-2}$ in the appropriate radially weighted $L^2$ spaces. We moreover prove that the vorticity weakly converges back to radial symmetry as $t \rightarrow \infty$, a phenomenon known as vortex axisymmetrization in the physics literature, and characterize the dynamics in higher Sobolev spaces. Furthermore, we prove that the $θ$-dependent angular Fourier modes in the vorticity are ejected from the origin as $t \to \infty$, resulting in faster inviscid damping rates than those possible with passive scalar evolution. This non-local effect is called vorticity depletion. Our work appears to be the first to find vorticity depletion relevant for the dynamics of vortices.

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On singularity formation in a Hele-Shaw model

We discuss a lubrication approximation model of the interface between two immiscible fluids in a Hele-Shaw cell, derived in \cite{CDGKSZ93} and widely studied since. The model consists of a single one dimensional evolution equation for the thickness $2h = 2h(x,t)$ of a thin neck of fluid, \[ \partial_t h + \partial_x( h \, \partial_x^3 h) = 0\, , \] for $x\in (-1,1)$ and $t\ge 0$. The boundary conditions fix the neck height and the pressure jump: \[ h(\pm 1,t) = 1, \qquad \partial_{x}^2 h(\pm 1,t) = P>0. \] We prove that starting from smooth and positive $h$, as long as $h(x,t) >0$, for $x\in [-1,1], \; t\in [0,T]$, no singularity can arise in the solution up to time $T$. As a consequence, we prove for any $P>2$ and any smooth and positive initial datum that the solution pinches off in either finite or infinite time, i.e., $\inf_{[-1,1]\times[0,T_*)} h = 0$, for some $T_* \in (0,\infty]$. These facts have been long anticipated on the basis of numerical and theoretical studies.

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Remarks on high Reynolds numbers hydrodynamics and the inviscid limit

We prove that any weak space-time $L^2$ vanishing viscosity limit of a sequence of strong solutions of Navier-Stokes equations in a bounded domain of ${\mathbb{R}}^2$ satisfies the Euler equation if the solutions' local enstrophies are uniformly bounded. We also prove that $t-a.e.$ weak $L^2$ inviscid limits of solutions of 3D Navier-Stokes equations in bounded domains are weak solutions of the Euler equation if they locally satisfy a scaling property of their second order structure function. The conditions imposed are far away from boundaries, and wild solutions of Euler equations are not a priori excluded in the limit.

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