The diffusion of scalar and vector fields by homogeneous stationary turbulence

Abstract

An exact Eulerian formulation of the problem of diffusion of passive scalar and vector fields by a turbulent velocity field is obtained. It is shown that, in the short autocorrelation time limit, the diffusion equation is exact for any turbulence. For non-zero autocorrelation times the form of the first few correction terms to the diffusion equation is found. As a result of these corrections the diffusion of scalar, divergence-free and curl-free vector fields will be different. The calculations use the Kubo–Van Kampen–Terwiel technique and are carried out for zero ordinary diffusivity and for homogeneous, stationary, isotropic, incompressible, helical turbulence.