On some dyadic models of the Euler equations

Fabian Waleffe

Published 2004-10-17, updated 2004-10-19Version 2

Katz and Pavlovic recently proposed a dyadic model of the Euler equations for which they proved finite time blow-up in the $H^{3/2+\epsilon}$ Sobolev norm. It is shown that their model can be reduced to the dyadic inviscid Burgers equation where nonlinear interactions are restricted to dyadic wavenumbers. The inviscid Burgers equation exhibits finite time blow-up in $H^{\alpha}$, for $\alpha \ge 1/2$, but its dyadic restriction is even more singular, exhibiting blow-up for any $\alpha > 0$. Friedlander and Pavlovic developed a closely related model for which they also prove finite time blow-up in $H^{3/2+\epsilon}$. Some inconsistent assumptions in the construction of their model are outlined. Finite time blow-up in the $H^{\alpha}$ norm, with $\alpha > 0$, is proven for a class of models that includes all those models. An alternative shell model of the Navier-Stokes equations is discussed.