Shell-model experiment: 24-shell run
Overview
The system is a cubic shell ODE: independent velocity-shell variables \(u_k\) and vorticity-shell variables \(\omega_k\) at integer wavenumbers \(k\), coupled by hand-built cubic transfer terms, a stretching coupling \(\lambda\) and a feedback coupling \(\sigma\), with linear damping \(\nu k^2\). It is not a Galerkin truncation of Navier–Stokes; \(u_k\) and \(\omega_k\) are separate state variables and the coupling structure is chosen by hand. Every threshold reported on this page — the amplitude \(A^*\), times to threshold crossing and classification scores — is a finite-window excursion threshold: \(A^*\) is the smallest initial amplitude for which the shell enstrophy \(\sum_k \omega_k^2\) exceeds a fixed excursion level within the integration window, and its value depends on the window length, the excursion level and the solver.
Question
Extending the ODE to 24 shells (12 velocity + 12 vorticity variables, wavenumbers \(k=1,\ldots,6\)) asks whether the threshold value at the fixed window and excursion level differs from the value 0.347 recorded at 16 and 20 shells.
Method
- Implement the 24-shell ODE with 12 velocity and 12 vorticity variables at wavenumbers \(k=1\) through \(k=6\), with all transfer paths and linear damping \(\nu k^2\) up to \(36\nu\).
- Run the full 26-level H/H'/H'' hierarchy with the doubling-time criterion \(P\).
- Sweep amplitudes to find \(A^*(\text{truth})\) and \(A^*(P)\). Evaluate classification across 14 test amplitudes.
- Compare with the 16- and 20-shell runs at the same window, excursion level and solver settings.
Results
Threshold amplitude
| Quantity | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| \(A^*(\text{truth})\) | 0.347 | Same value as the 16- and 20-shell runs at this window and excursion level |
| \(A^*(P)\) | 0.328 | Doubling-time criterion estimate |
| \(P/\text{truth}\) | 94.6% | Same across 16, 20 and 24 shells |
Classification
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Score | 14/14 amplitudes classified |
| Diagnostic loop | \(L_1 \to L_4 \to L_2 \to L_1\) present at every checkpoint |
| Fitted power-law exponent | 2.0 |
Threshold values across shell counts
A* values: 0.290 → 0.302 → 0.328 → 0.347 → 0.347 → 0.347
8 10 12 16 20 24 shells
\(A^*\) is 0.347 at 16, 20 and 24 shells in these runs.
Analysis
- Threshold value. \(A^* = 0.347\) at 16, 20 and 24 shells in these runs.
- Classification. 14/14 at each of the last four shell counts (12, 16, 20, 24).
- Recorded quantities. \(A^*\), \(P/\text{truth}\), score, fitted exponent and the diagnostic loop take the same values at 16, 20 and 24 shells.
- Fitted exponent. 2.0 at each of the seven shell counts run (6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24).
- Damping range. Linear damping \(\nu k^2\) spans a 36:1 range across the shells.
Summary of the run
The 24-shell cubic ODE gives \(A^* = 0.347\), \(P/\text{truth} = 94.6\%\), 14/14 classified and fitted power-law exponent 2.0, the same recorded values as the 16- and 20-shell runs at this window and excursion level. All are finite-window excursion quantities of this ODE; how they behave under a different window, excursion level or solver is not measured here.
Reproducibility
../simplex/build/sxc exp_ns_24mode_solve.sx -o build/exp_ns_24mode_solve.ll
OPENSSL_PREFIX=$(brew --prefix openssl)
clang -O2 build/exp_ns_24mode_solve.ll \
../simplex/runtime/standalone_runtime.c \
-o build/exp_ns_24mode_solve \
-lm -lssl -lcrypto -L${OPENSSL_PREFIX}/lib
./build/exp_ns_24mode_solve
Related
- 20-shell run — wavenumbers 1–5
- 16-shell run — wavenumbers 1–4
- Shell-count series — full table across 6–24 shells
- 6-shell run — criterion-by-criterion threshold estimates