Exact Relation for Correlation Functions in Compressible Isothermal Turbulence

Abstract

Compressible isothermal turbulence is analyzed under the assumption of homogeneity and in the asymptotic limit of a high Reynolds number. An exact relation is derived for some two-point correlation functions which reveals a fundamental difference with the incompressible case. The main difference resides in the presence of a new type of term which acts on the inertial range similarly as a source or a sink for the mean energy transfer rate. When isotropy is assumed, compressible turbulence may be described by the relation -2/3ε(eff)r = F(r)(r), where F(r) is the radial component of the two-point correlation functions and ε(eff) is an effective mean total energy injection rate. By dimensional arguments, we predict that a spectrum in k(-5/3) may still be preserved at small scales if the density-weighted fluid velocity ρ(1/3)u is used.