Short-wave instability growth in closely spaced vortex pairs

The growth of short-wave elliptical instabilities in a Lamb-Oseen vortex pair subject to non-uniform strain fields at close vortex spacing is considered using direct numerical simulation at a Reynolds number Re = 20000. A linear stability analysis demonstrates that with reduced vortex spacing the growth rate of all axial wave-numbers is enhanced relative to that of the fastest-growing mode. A coupling of vortices is observed at close vortex spacing, which may lead to improved non-linear instability growth, and the development of fluid cross-over regions. These fluid cross-over regions are shown to be products of a linear growth regime.