Title: The transition to turbulence in shear flows: a dynamical systems perspective.

 

Abstract: The transition to turbulence in shear flows like pipe flow or plane Couette flow is fascinating because it  depends sensitively on perturbations, the flow is spatially and temporally complex right from the onset, and the turbulent state is transient rather than persistent. Moreover, the laminar profile turns out to be stable to infinitesimal perturbations, preventing the application of methods that have been useful in the study of pattern formation and transition in convection.

However, it has been shown in recent years how judiciously adapted concepts from dynamical systems theory can be used to explain many of these features and to resolve some of the puzzles of the flows. The developments are at the focus of the ongoing KITP program on “Recurrent Flows: The Clockwork Behind Turbulence“.