Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence in strongly coupled dusty plasmas

The turbulence mixing initiated by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability has been reported in a two-dimensional (2D) strongly coupled dusty plasma system using classical molecular dynamics simulation. The entire evolution cycle, including the initial equilibrium, the instability, turbulent mixing, and, finally, a new equilibrium through the thermalization process, has been demonstrated via the respective energy spectra. The fully developed spectrum follows the Bolgiano-Obukho k(-11/5) scaling at smaller wavenumbers, a characteristic 2D buoyancy-driven turbulent flow feature. At higher wavenumbers, the energy spectrum E(k) proportional to k represents the thermalization of the system and is a characteristic feature of 2D Euler turbulence. At longer timescales, the system reflects the Kolmogorov scale of k(-3). Moreover, strong coupling slows the turbulent mixing process, though the final state is a complete thermalized system. Our results also help us to understand the thermalization process in Yukawa fluids, other strongly coupled plasma families, and turbulent mixing in low Reynolds number fluids. (c) 2024 Author(s).