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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Three-dimensional Particle Tracking Velocimetry for Turbulence Applications: Case of a Jet Flow
Published on: February 27, 2016
Three-dimensional structure of the Lagrangian acceleration in turbulent flows
Nicolas Mordant1, Alice M Crawford, Eberhard Bodenschatz
1Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Clark Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Abstract:
We report experimental results on the three-dimensional Lagrangian acceleration in highly turbulent flows. Tracer particles are tracked optically using four silicon strip detectors from high energy physics that provide high temporal and spatial resolution. The components of the acceleration are shown to be statistically dependent. The probability density function of the acceleration magnitude is comparable to a log-normal distribution. Assuming isotropy, a log-normal distribution of the magnitude can account for the observed dependency of the components. The time dynamics of the acceleration components is found to be typical of the dissipation scales, whereas the magnitude evolves over longer times, possibly close to the integral time scale.
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