Gravitational wave turbulence: A multiple time scale approach for quartic wave interactions

Wave turbulence is by nature a multiple timescale problem for which there is a natural asymptotic closure. The main result of this analytical theory is the kinetic equation that describes the longtime statistical behavior of such turbulence composed of a set of weakly nonlinear interacting waves. In the case of gravitational waves, it involves four-wave interactions and two invariants, energy, and wave action. Although the kinetic equation of gravitational wave turbulence has been published with the Hadad-Zakharov metric, along with their physical properties, the detailed derivation has not been shown. Following the seminal work of Newell [Rev. Geophys. 6, 1 (1968).] for gravity/surface waves, we present the multiple timescale method, rarely used to derive the kinetic equations, and clarify the underlying assumptions and methodology. This formalism is applied to a wave amplitude equation obtained using an Eulerian approach. It leads to a kinetic equation slightly different from the one originally published, with a wave equation obtained using a Hamiltonian approach; we verify, however, that the two formulations are fully compatible when the number of symmetries used is the same. We also show that the exact solutions (Kolmogorov-Zakharov spectra) exhibit the same power laws and cascade directions. Furthermore, the use of the multiple timescale method reveals that the system retains the memory of the initially condition up to a certain level (second order) of development in time.

Figure 1

Diagram of the interaction mode in the case of Eq. (80a) (on top) and in the case of Eq. (80c) (on bottom).

Figure 2

Schematic representation of the manifold upon $2\leftrightarrow 2$ interactions are possible. It is simply defined by the position of a dot $M$ (in red) located on an ellipse whose foci are ${\mathrm{F}}_1$ and ${\mathrm{F}}_2$.