Stochastic stability of invariant measures: The 2D Euler equation

Abstract: In finite-dimensional dynamical systems, stochastic stability provides the selection of physical relevant measures from the myriad invariant measures of conservative systems. That this might also apply to infinite-dimensional systems is the inspiration for this work. As an example the 2D Euler equation is studied. Among other results this study suggests that the coherent structures observed in 2D hydrodynamics are associated to configurations that maximize stochastically stable measures uniquely determined by the boundary conditions in mode space.