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An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Coherent vortices in strongly coupled liquids
1Institute for Plasma Research, Bhat, Gandhinagar-382428, India. ashwin@ipr.res.in
Physical Review Letters
|April 27, 2011
Summary
We observed isolated tripolar vortices in strongly coupled liquids using molecular dynamics simulations. This finding in Yukawa liquids suggests universal vortex behavior in astrophysical and plasma systems.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Plasma physics
- Astrophysical fluid dynamics
Background:
- Strongly coupled liquids, where potential energy dominates kinetic energy, are common in nature and experiments.
- Understanding their dynamic behavior is crucial for various scientific fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emergence of coherent structures in two-dimensional (2D) strongly coupled liquids.
- To report the first observation of isolated tripolar vortices in such systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing "first principles" molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
- Analyzing the evolution of axisymmetric flows in a 2D Yukawa liquid.
- Comparing MD-derived linear growth rates with a generalized hydrodynamic model.
Main Results:
- Successfully simulated the emergence of isolated coherent tripolar vortices.
- Observed that these vortices persist over multiple turnover times.
- Validated simulation results by comparing linear growth rates with theoretical models.
Conclusions:
- Tripolar vortices are a stable emergent phenomenon in 2D strongly coupled liquids.
- This phenomenon is potentially universal and observable in complex plasmas, liquid metals, and astrophysical bodies like white dwarfs and giant planets.
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