Non-axisymmetric vortices in two-dimensional flows (Q4494579)

The author studies the structure of non-axisymmetric correction generated by an external rotating multipolar strain field to a vortex with Gaussian vorticity profile. It is shown that when the angular frequency \(\omega\) of the external fied is in the range of angular velocity of the vortex, the non-axisymmetric correction exhibits a critical-point singularity which requires the introduction of viscosity or a smoothing procedure for the nonlinearity. The nature of the critical layer, which depends on the parameter \(h=l/(\text{Re} \varepsilon^{3/2})\), where \(\varepsilon\) is the amplitude of non-axisymmetric correction and Re is the Reynolds number based on the vortex circulation, is found to govern the entire structure of the correction. Numerous properties are analysed as \(\omega\) and \(h\) vary for a multipolar strain field of order \(n=2, 3, 4\) and \(5\). In the second part of the paper, the author investigates the problem of existence of non-axisymmetric correction which can survive without external field due to the presence of a nonlinear critical layer. For a family of vorticity profiles ranging from Gaussian to top-hat profile, such a correction is shown to exist for particular values of angular frequency. The resulting non-axisymmetric vortices are analysed in detail and compared with recent computations by \textit{A. J. Bernoff} and \textit{J. F. Lingevitch} [Phys. Fluids 6, No. 11, 3717-3723 (1994; Zbl 0838.76024)] and \textit{D. G. Dritschel} [J. Fluid Mech. 371, 141-155 (1998; Zbl 0918.76010)] for non-axisymmetric vortices. The results are also discussed in the context of electron columns where similar non-axisymmetric structures were observed experimentally.