Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

The Diffusion of Passive Tracers in Laminar Shear Flow
Published on: May 1, 2018
Superdiffusion and viscoelastic vortex flows in a two-dimensional complex plasma
S Ratynskaia1, K Rypdal, C Knapek
1Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, D-85741 Garching, Germany.
Abstract:
Viscoelastic vortical fluid motion in a strongly coupled particle system has been observed experimentally. Optical tracking of particle motion in a complex plasma monolayer reveals high grain mobility and large scale vortex flows coexistent with partial preservation of the global hexagonal lattice structure. The transport of particles is superdiffusive and ascribed to Lévy statistics on short time scales and to memory effects on the longer scales influenced by cooperative motion. At these longer time scales, the transport is governed by vortex flows covering a wide spectrum of temporal and spatial scales.
Related Concept Videos
Viscosity of Fluid
Couette Flow
Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Viscosity
The SI unit of viscosity is...
Viscosity
Dimensionless Groups in Fluid Mechanics

