Phase decorrelation of coherent structures in a free shear layer

The vortices near the origin of an initially laminar mixing layer have a single frequency with a well-defined phase; i.e. there is little phase jitter. Further downstream, however, the phase jitter increases suddenly. Even when the flow is forced, this same transition is observed. The forcing partially loses its influence because of the decorrelation of the phase between the forcing signal and the passing coherent structures. In the present investigation, this phenomenon is documented and the physical mechanism responsible for the phase decorrelation is identified.