Ramis Örlü: An Experimentalist's Guide to Wall Turbulence – A trilogy and 'Publish and/or Perish'

“It’s just a little turbulence! It’s nothing to worry about!” is a phrase from the 1997 action thriller ’Turbulence'. Not only did the movie turn out to be a box office flop, but its reassuring phrase also tries to hide the economical and ecological importance of turbulence. This complex, nonlinear multi-scale phenomenon, as what fluid turbulence is known, is in fact omnipresent and surrounds us in uncountable ways and is not without reason the most difficult and fundamental problem in classical physics. The situation becomes even more complex, when the flow is confined by walls, which brings us to Wall-(bounded) Turbulence.

In my docent presentation, I will give you a glimpse into open questions in Wall Turbulence and demonstrate in the first part of my talk – entitled: ‘A trilogy in Wall Turbulence’ – how an experimentalist perspective and a synergetic collaboration between experimentalist and numericist made it possible to leave an impact in a century old research field. Based on a number of related research topics that will be touched upon in the second part of my talk – entitled: ‘Publish or/and Perish' – the importance, benefits and dangers of embracing a sceptical tenor in research will be outlined.