On the approximation of vorticity fronts by the Burgers-Hilbert equation

Abstract

This paper proves that the motion of small-slope vorticity fronts in the two-dimensional incompressible Euler equations is approximated on cubically nonlinear timescales by a Burgers-Hilbert equation derived by Biello and Hunter (2010) using formal asymptotic expansions. The proof uses a modified energy method to show that the contour dynamics equations for vorticity fronts in the Euler equations and the Burgers-Hilbert equation are both approximated by the same cubically nonlinear asymptotic equation. The contour dynamics equations for Euler vorticity fronts are also derived.