Inverse Cascade Regime in Shell Models of 2-Dimensional Turbulence

Abstract

We consider shell models that display an inverse energy cascade similar to 2-dimensional turbulence (together with a direct cascade of an enstrophy-like invariant). Previous attempts to construct such models ended negatively, stating that shell models give rise to a "quasi-equilibrium" situation with equipartition of the energy among the shells. We show analytically that the quasi-equilibrium state predicts its own disappearance upon changing the model parameters in favor of the establishment of an inverse cascade regime with K41 scaling. The latter regime is found where predicted, offering a useful model to study inverse cascades.