Adiabatic Heating of Contracting Turbulent Fluids

Details Adiabatic Heating of Contracting Turbulent Fluids Adiabatic Heating of Contracting Turbulent Fluids

2012-03-21

arxiv.org/abs/1203.4815v1

Astrophysical Journal Letters, 750, 31 (2012)

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Galaxy Astrophysics

5 pages, 2 figures. Accepted by the Astrophysical Journal Letters

Scientific paper

Turbulence influences the behavior of many astrophysical systems, frequently by providing non-thermal pressure support through random bulk motions. Although turbulence is commonly studied in systems with constant volume and mean density, turbulent astrophysical gases often expand or contract under the influence of pressure or gravity. Here, we examine the behavior of turbulence in contracting volumes using idealized models of compressed gases. Employing numerical simulations and an analytical model, we identify a simple mechanism by which the turbulent motions of contracting gases "adiabatically heat", experiencing an increase in their random bulk velocities until the largest eddies in the gas circulate over a "Hubble" time of the contraction. Adiabatic heating provides a mechanism for sustaining turbulence in gases where no large-scale driving exists. We describe this mechanism in detail and discuss some potential applications to turbulence in astrophysical settings.

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