Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
A kinetic equation for a two-dimensional inviscid hydrodynamic fluid is derived in two ways. First, the equations of motion for the modes of the fluid are interpreted as stochastic equations resembling the Langevin equation. To lowest order a Fokker–Planck equation can be derived which is the kinetic equation for one mode. Secondly, a suitable iteration scheme is applied to the Hopf equation which results in the same kinetic equation. A parameter describing the time scale is arbitrary and cannot be determined by the applied methods alone. It is shown that the kinetic equation satisfies the conservation requirements and relaxes to an equilibrium which is a rigorous solution of the Hopf equation.