A Critical "Dimension" in a Shell Model for Turbulence

Abstract

We investigate the GOY shell model within the scenario of a critical dimension in fully developed turbulence. By changing the conserved quantities, one can continuously vary an ``effective dimension'' between $d=2$ and $d=3$. We identify a critical point between these two situations where the flux of energy changes sign and the helicity flux diverges. Close to the critical point the energy spectrum exhibits a turbulent scaling regime followed by a plateau of thermal equilibrium. We identify scaling laws and perform a rescaling argument to derive a relation between the critical exponents. We further discuss the distribution function of the energy flux.