Dispersion of Lagrangian trajectories in a random large-scale velocity field

We study the distribution of the distance R(t) between two Lagrangian trajectories in a spatially smooth turbulent velocity field with an arbitrary correlation time and a non-Gaussian distribution. There are two dimensionless parameters, the degree of deviation from the Gaussian distribution α and β=τD, where τ is the velocity correlation time and D is a characteristic velocity gradient. Asymptotically, R(t) has a lognormal distribution characterized by the mean runaway velocity and the dispersion Δ. We use the method of higher space dimensions d to estimate and Δ for different values of α and β. It was shown previously that for β≪ 1 and for β≫ 1. The estimate of Δ is then nonuniversal and depends on details of the two-point velocity correlator. Higher-order velocity correlators give an additional contribution to Δ estimated as αD²τ for β≪1 and αβ/τ for β≫1. For α above some critical value σ_cr, the values of and Δ are determined by higher irreducible correlators of the velocity gradient, and our approach loses its applicability. This critical value can be estimated as for β≪1 and for β≫1. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Matematicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 122, No. 3, pp. 456–467, March, 2000.