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Tracking the rotation of light magnetic particles in turbulence

Chunlai Wu1, Rudie P. J. Kunnen1, Ziqi Wang1, Xander M. de Wit1, Federico Toschi1,2, and Herman J. H. Clercx1,*

  • *Contact author: h.j.h.clercx@tue.nl
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 10, 114903 – Published 18 November, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/xsj2-fvk8

Abstract

Particle-laden turbulence involves highly complex interactions between the dynamics of the dispersed particle phase and that of the continuous turbulent phase. Particles with different physical properties, such as shape, density, and size, are particularly interesting as these can be sensitive to or influence different specific aspects of the flow. In this contribution we focus on the coupling between the angular dynamics of particles and turbulent vorticity in turbulence. To this end, we detail the development and demonstrate the capabilities of a special experimental setup where the angular dynamics of particles can be both measured (via optical image processing techniques) and imposed (via the application of external rotating magnetic fields). We further discuss how particles of different densities and magnetic properties can be manufactured, with specific interest toward light particles as these can be transformed into vorticity probes and localized forcing acting on small-scale vortex filaments. The ordinary optical method for particle tracking velocimetry is here extended to accurately measure the angular velocity of particles with sizes significantly smaller than the Taylor microscale, typically an order of magnitude larger than the Kolmogorov scale of the turbulence in which they are suspended. Remarkably, the optical method employed in this study enables accurate measurement of the full three-dimensional angular velocity vector of particles using only two-dimensional image sequences, thereby requiring only one camera. The present contribution discusses in detail how the different design choices are entangled with each other and which considerations are relevant when designing such an experimental setup. Beyond advancing the study of particle dynamics in turbulence, this approach opens up possibilities for actively studying how to modulate turbulence through externally applied magnetic fields.

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Phys. Rev. Fluids 10, 114903– Published 18 November, 2025
  • Received 16 June 2025
  • Accepted 6 October 2025
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