Quasi-two-dimensional hydrodynamics and interaction of vortex tubes (Q4942961)

A spatial flow of ideal incompressible fluid is called quasi-two-dimensional if gradients in one preferred direction (e.g. \(z\)) are much less than all gradients in the orthogonal plane \((x,y)\). The author develops a systematic approach to the study of vortex dynamics in such a flow. First, he studies the asymptotic dynamics of an isolated vortex tube, assuming that the core of the tube is axially symmetric and small with respect to the characteristic curvature radius of the tube. These results are applied to the derivation of a nonlinear Schrödinger equation which governs the behaviour of the vortex tube in a two-dimensional external flow. Finally, the author investigates the interaction of vortex tubes, instability and collapse of a travelling vortex pair, and solitonic solutions related to a co-rotating vortex pair. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0930.00079].