Understanding Flows with Vortex Geometry

Vortex filament methods have long provided a simplified, intuitive picture of fluid mechanics. For example, quantities like energy and helicity can be understood in terms of the geometry of vortex lines. In practice, however, these ideas are often difficult to extend to analysis of experimental data. I will discuss some of my past work which used 3D imaging to understand the evolution of helicity through vortex reconnections. I will also discuss more recent work which seeks to extend these experimental techniques to more complicated flows, with the aim of understanding vortex evolution in complex environments.