Trouble of Non-Linearity

Abstract

All complex fluid motions, such as transition and turbulence, obeying the Navier-Stokes equations are non-linear phenomena. Some aspects of the non-linear terms of these equations are not well understood and are, in fact, misunderstood. The one-dimensional Kuramoto-Sivashinsky (KS) equation is used as a simple model non-linear partial differential equation to show some essential functions of its non-linear term and its consequences, which, we believe, are shared with other non-linear partial differential equations. We show that solutions of nonlinear partial differential equations above their critical parameters may be linearly stable, but are nonlinearly unstable. No stable solution exists above the critical parameter, contrary to the prediction of the linear-stability analysis. This is because a linearly stable disturbance can transfer energy simultaneously, not necessarily in cascade from small wave numbers to large wave numbers. An initial disturbance can breed its entire harmonics simultaneously. Second, I show that a long-time numerical chaotic solution cannot be achieved by a discrete numerical method.