Maintenance of a columnar vortex by inertial waves in rotational turbulence

RESUMO

We develop a theory that determines the radial profile of the mean velocity in a coherent geostrophic vortex forming in a turbulent rapidly rotating fluid. Following the conditions of our experiments, we assume that the flow in the vortex is sustained by the absorption of short-wavelength inertial waves arriving from the vortex periphery. The nonlinear interaction between waves is assumed negligible in the theory. Comparison with experimental data supports the validity of the developed model.