Statistical dynamics of dissipative drift wave turbulence

The statistical dynamics of a two-field model of dissipative drift wave turbulence is investigated using the EDQNM (eddy damped quasinormal Markovian) closure method [J. Fluid Mech. 41, 363 (1970)]. The analyses include studies of statistical closure equations, derivation of an H theorem, and its application to formulation of selective decay hypotheses for turbulent relaxation process. The results show that the dynamics of the two-field model is fundamentally different from that of the familiar, one-field Hasegawa–Mima model [Phys. Fluids 21, 87 (1978)]. In particular, density fluctuations nonlinearly couple to small scales, as does enstrophy. This transfer process is nonlinearly regulated by the dynamics of the density–vorticity cross correlation. Since density perturbations are not simply related to potential perturbations, as is vorticity, their transfer rate is greater. As a result, turbulent relaxation processes exhibit both dynamic alignment of density and vorticity and coherent vortex formation.