A comparison of the contour surgery and pseudo-spectral methods (Q1209851)

Two numerical methods, viz. pseudo-spectral and contour surgery, are compared by the authors. The comparison is attempted in a model problem involving the stripping of a distributed vortex with subsequent complex interactions between the vortex core and the stripped filaments. The authors have observed excellent quantitative agreement between the two types of simulations, up to very small scales of motion. It is noted that as few as eight discrete levels of vorticity in contour surgery give results which are quantitatively close to those obtained by the pseudo- spectral method at high resolution. A comparison of advantages and shortcomings of both methods is also included. The paper makes an interesting reading.