A two-dimensional model of shear-flow transition

Abstract

We explore a two-dimensional dynamical system modeling transition in shear flows to try to understand the nature of an 'edge' state. The latter is an invariant set in phase space separating the basin of attraction B of the laminar state into two parts distinguished from one another by the nature of relaminarizing orbits. The model is parametrized by R, a stand-in for Reynolds number. The origin is a stable equilibrium point for all values of R and represents the laminar flow. The system possesses four critical parameter values at which qualitative changes take place, R_{sn}, R_h, R_{bh} and R_\infty. The origin is globally stable if R < R_{sn} but for R > R_{sn} has two further equilibrium points, X_{lb} and X_{ub} . Of these X_{lb} is unstable for all values of R > R_{sn} whereas X_{ub} is stable for R < R_{bh} and therefore possesses its own basin of attraction D. At R = R_h a homoclinic bifurcation takes place with the simultaneous formation of a homoclinic loop and an edge state. For R_h < R < R_{bh} the edge state, which is the stable manifold of X_{lb}, forms part of \partial B, the boundary of the basin of attraction of the origin. The other part of \partial B is a periodic orbit P bounding D. P and D shrink with increasing R. At R = R_{bh} there is a 'backwards Hopf' bifurcation at which X_{ub} loses its stability and P and D disappear. For R_{bh} < R < R_\infty the edge is 'pure' in the sense that it is the only phase space structure that lies outside the basin of attraction of the origin. As R increases the point X_{lb} recedes to progressively greater distances, with a singularity at R = R_\infty where it becomes infinite. For R > R_\infty X_{lb} has reappeared, the edge state has disappeared, and the geometrical structure favors permanent transition from the laminar state, increasingly so for increasing values of R.