Kraichnan flow in a square: An example of integrable chaos (Q885049)

The Kraichnan random ensemble of velocities has been extensively used to model the turbulent transport. As a random dynamical system, under suitable simplifications (here, the flow in a periodic square) the Kraichnan flow is amenable to an exact analysis. Specifically, the evolution of infinitesimal separation between two Lagrangian trajectiories of the flow, in the long-time asymptotics is reflected in the large deviation regime of the statistics of stretching exponents. The core of the paper is devoted to properties of Kraichnan flow in a periodic square: the persistence of anisotropy at small distances, the calculation of Lyapunov exponents, the large deviations analysis for stretching exponents, their relation to Lamé equations (that is the hidden integrable structure existing within the model), their non-Gaussianity and discontinuity in anisotropy parameters. Hints are given towards the existence of a general scenario for the occurence of multiplicative large deviations when all Lyapunov exponents are different, and for the mechanism of its failure when some of Lyapunov exponents get close.