Hydrodynamic turbulence as a problem in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics

We reformulate the problem of hydrodynamic turbulence as a heat flow problem. We obtain thus a prediction $$\zeta_p={p\over3}-{1\over\ln\kappa}\ln\Gamma({p\over3}+1)$$ for the exponents of the structure functions ($<|\Delta_rv|^p>=r^{\zeta_p}$). The meaning of the adjustable parameter $\kappa$ is that when an eddy of size $r$ has decayed to eddies of size $r/\kappa$ their energies have a thermal distribution. The above formula, with $(\ln\kappa)^{-1}=.32\pm.01$ is compatible with experimental data. This agreement lends supports to our physically motivated picture of turbulence.