title: Exponential decay of chaotically advected passive scalars in the zero diffusivity limit.
abstract: The time asymptotic decay of the variance of a passive scalar in a chaotic flow is studied. Two mechanisms for this decay, which involve processes at short and long length scales, respectively, are considered. The validity of the short length scale mechanism, which is based on Lagrangian stretching theory, is discussed. We also investigate the regimes of applicability and observable signatures of the two mechanisms. Supporting evidence is provided by high resolution numerical experiments.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, and Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
authors.forename: Yue-Kin
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Antonsen
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ott