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Non-Hermitian wave turbulence (2504.15403v1)

Published 21 Apr 2025 in physics.flu-dyn, cond-mat.soft, and nlin.CD

Abstract: Wave turbulence describes the long-time statistical behavior of out-of-equilibrium systems composed of weakly interacting waves. Non-Hermitian media ranging from open quantum systems to active materials can sustain wave propagation in so-called $PT$-symmetric states where gain and loss are effectively balanced. Here, we derive the kinetic equations governing wave turbulence in a prototypical non-Hermitian medium: a three-dimensional fluid with odd viscosity. We calculate its exact anisotropic solution, the so-called Kolmogorov-Zakharov spectrum, and validate the existence of this regime using direct numerical simulations. This non-Hermitian wave turbulence generates a direct cascade that is sustained down to the smallest scales, suppressing the transition to strong turbulence typically observed in rotating fluids and electron magnetohydrodynamics. Beyond odd viscous fluids, this qualitative mechanism applies to any non-linear system of waves where non-Hermitian effects are enhanced at small scales through gradient terms in the dynamical equations, e.g. via odd elastic moduli or other non-reciprocal responses.

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Summary

An Analytical Exploration of Non-Hermitian Wave Turbulence

In this work, the authors investigate the dynamics of wave turbulence within non-Hermitian media by introducing kinetic equations governing such turbulence in systems, particularly focusing on a three-dimensional fluid characterized by odd viscosity. Non-Hermitian wave turbulence delineates the statistical properties of weakly interacting waves over extended periods in systems that are not in equilibrium. This paper presents a robust analytical framework derived from the Navier-Stokes equations, modified to incorporate odd viscosity terms, which distinguishes non-Hermitian media such as open quantum systems and active materials.

Overview of Methodology

The approach involves deriving kinetic equations and exploring their solutions to understand wave turbulence in non-Hermitian systems. The paper presents a specialized model focusing on waves occurring within fluids exhibiting odd viscosity, a type of viscosity that breaks time-reversal symmetry and is associated with atypical forces that deviate from classical Newtonian mechanics. The authors employ a modal decomposition to paper the non-linear interplay of waves in the fluid, which leads to the derivation of a kinetic equation representing wave interactions.

Numerical Results and Analytical Predictions

The paper computes the Kolmogorov-Zakharov spectrum, an exact solution indicating a direct cascade, as a characteristic of non-Hermitian wave turbulence. The conditions necessitating wave turbulence are discussed through the timescale ratio, which compares the linear wave period to the non-linear interaction time. Analytical predictions postulate that weak turbulence prevails when the linear dynamics surpass non-linear interactions, implying a continuum of wave turbulence down to smaller scales.

Direct numerical simulations bolster the theoretical analysis, confirming the retention of turbulence waves across decreasing scales. The authors utilize pseudo-spectral methods to resolve odd viscous fluid dynamics, showcasing spatio-temporal spectra to delineate turbulence characteristics and verifying the pressure-resistance hierarchy across modes.

Implications and Future Directions

The implications are multifold, offering relevance for various fields examining non-Hermitian systems. In practical terms, the suppression of transitions to strong turbulence offers insights into energy distribution in magnetohydrodynamic and rotating environments. Theoretically, the work prompts renewed examination of turbulence in non-linear systems exhibiting non-reciprocal responses or those with gradient-enhanced effects. Prospective applications could extend toward quantum mechanics, particularly theories involving interacting waves or oscillatory phenomena in quantum materials, where systems depart from Hermiticity.

This analytical framework provides a template for future inquiries into the mechanics of non-Hermitian structures in condensed matter physics, with potential expansions into odd elasticity in active media. By exemplifying the wave kinetic equations and leveraging resonant conditions, the paper fosters a deeper understanding of the complex interplay of forces in evolving media, paving the way for new explorations into unconventional fluid dynamics and other systems governed by atypical viscosity behavior.

This research elucidates the foundational dynamics underlying non-linear, non-Hermitian wave turbulence, contributing substantive theoretical clarity to the understanding of fluid dynamics in non-Hermitian systems. The formulations and numerical verifications presented establish a compelling basis for the exploration of complex wave interactions in advanced physical contexts.

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