Generalized stability analyses of asymmetric disturbances in one- and two-celled vortices maintained by radial inflow

The dynamics of asymmetric perturbations in two-dimensional vortices that are maintained by radial inflow were studied. Using the generalized stability analysis, the growth of both transient and exponentially growing perturbations on the mean flow was examined. The interaction of these perturbations with the mean flow and the effects of radial inflow on the dynamics was explored. The results regarding stability showed excellent agreement with previous work on vortices of various velocity profiles. It was also found that the initial conditions that lead to the greatest perturbation energy for long times are not the most unstable modes but rather the most unstable modes of the adjoining operator.