Transient vortex events in the initial value problem for turbulence

A vorticity surge event that could be a paradigm for a wide class of bursting events in turbulence is studied. The coherent mechanism is characterized by locally transverse vortex configurations that are intrinsically helical in both physical and Fourier space when there is a peak of the maximum vorticity parallel omega parallel(infinity)(t). At no time are nonhelical, antiparallel vorticity elements observed. This event precedes the appearance of the traditional signatures of an energy cascade such as strong growth of the dissipation, spectra approaching -5/3, and strongly Beltramized vortex tubes. Comparing how different large-eddy simulations reproduce these properties demonstrates the importance of properly modeling nonlinear transport of both energy and helicity.