The finest state space resolution that can be achieved in a physical dynamical system is limited by the presence of noise. In the weak-noise approximation the neighborhoods of deterministic periodic orbits can be computed as distributions stationary
under the action of a local Fokker-Planck operator and its adjoint. We derive explicit formulae for widths of these distributions in the case of chaotic dynamics, when the periodic orbits are hyperbolic. The resulting neighborhoods form a basis for functions on the attractor. The global stationary distribution, needed for calculation of long-time expectation values of observables, can be expressed in this basis.
Spatially extended systems, such as channel or pipe flows, are often equivariant under continuous symmetry transformations, with each state of the flow having an infinite number of equivalent solutions obtained from it by a translation or a rotation.
This multitude of equivalent solutions tends to obscure the dynamics of turbulence. Here we describe the `first Fourier mode slice, a very simple, easy to implement reduction of SO(2) symmetry. While the method exhibits rapid variations in phase velocity whenever the magnitude of the first Fourier mode is nearly vanishing, these near singularities can be regularized by a time-scaling transformation. We show that after application of the method, hitherto unseen global structures, for example Kuramoto-Sivashinsky relative periodic orbits and unstable manifolds of travelling waves, are uncovered.
Symmetry reduction by the method of slices quotients the continuous symmetries of chaotic flows by replacing the original state space by a set of charts, each covering a neighborhood of a dynamically important class of solutions, qualitatively captur
ed by a `template. Together these charts provide an atlas of the symmetry-reduced `slice of state space, charting the regions of the manifold explored by the trajectories of interest. Within the slice, relative equilibria reduce to equilibria and relative periodic orbits reduce to periodic orbits. Visualizations of these solutions and their unstable manifolds reveal their interrelations and the role they play in organizing turbulence/chaos.
Symmetry reduction by the method of slices is applied to pipe flow in order to quotient the stream-wise translation and azimuthal rotation symmetries of turbulent flow states. Within the symmetry-reduced state space, all travelling wave solutions red
uce to equilibria, and all relative periodic orbits reduce to periodic orbits. Projections of these solutions and their unstable manifolds from their $infty$-dimensional symmetry-reduced state space onto suitably chosen 2- or 3-dimensional subspaces reveal their interrelations and the role they play in organising turbulence in wall-bounded shear flows. Visualisations of the flow within the slice and its linearisation at equilibria enable us to trace out the unstable manifolds, determine close recurrences, identify connections between different travelling wave solutions, and find, for the first time for pipe flows, relative periodic orbits that are embedded within the chaotic attractor, which capture turbulent dynamics at transitional Reynolds numbers.
We present two continuous symmetry reduction methods for reducing high-dimensional dissipative flows to local return maps. In the Hilbert polynomial basis approach, the equivariant dynamics is rewritten in terms of invariant coordinates. In the metho
d of moving frames (or method of slices) the state space is sliced locally in such a way that each group orbit of symmetry-equivalent points is represented by a single point. In either approach, numerical computations can be performed in the original state-space representation, and the solutions are then projected onto the symmetry-reduced state space. The two methods are illustrated by reduction of the complex Lorenz system, a 5-dimensional dissipative flow with rotational symmetry. While the Hilbert polynomial basis approach appears unfeasible for high-dimensional flows, symmetry reduction by the method of moving frames offers hope.
The continuous and discrete symmetries of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky system restricted to a spatially periodic domain play a prominent role in shaping the invariant sets of its chaotic dynamics. The continuous spatial translation symmetry leads to rela
tive equilibrium (traveling wave) and relative periodic orbit (modulated traveling wave) solutions. The discrete symmetries lead to existence of equilibrium and periodic orbit solutions, induce decomposition of state space into invariant subspaces, and enforce certain structurally stable heteroclinic connections between equilibria. We show, on the example of a particular small-cell Kuramoto-Sivashinsky system, how the geometry of its dynamical state space is organized by a rigid `cage built by heteroclinic connections between equilibria, and demonstrate the preponderance of unstable relative periodic orbits and their likely role as the skeleton underpinning spatiotemporal turbulence in systems with continuous symmetries. We also offer novel visualizations of the high-dimensional Kuramoto-Sivashinsky state space flow through projections onto low-dimensional, PDE representation independent, dynamically invariant intrinsic coordinate frames, as well as in terms of the physical, symmetry invariant energy transfer rates.
All physical systems are affected by some noise that limits the resolution that can be attained in partitioning their state space. For chaotic, locally hyperbolic flows, this resolution depends on the interplay of the local stretching/contraction and
the smearing due to noise. We propose to determine the `finest attainable partition for a given hyperbolic dynamical system and a given weak additive white noise, by computing the local eigenfunctions of the adjoint Fokker-Planck operator along each periodic point, and using overlaps of their widths as the criterion for an optimal partition. The Fokker-Planck evolution is then represented by a finite transition graph, whose spectral determinant yields time averages of dynamical observables. Numerical tests of such `optimal partition of a one-dimensional repeller support our hypothesis.
Equilibrium, traveling wave, and periodic orbit solutions of pipe, channel, and plane Couette flows can now be computed precisely at Reynolds numbers above the onset of turbulence. These invariant solutions capture the complex dynamics of wall-bounde
d rolls and streaks and provide a framework for understanding low-Reynolds turbulent shear flows as dynamical systems. We present fluid dynamics videos of plane Couette flow illustrating periodic orbits, a close pass of turbulent flow to a periodic orbit, and heteroclinic connections between unstable equilibria.
Plane Couette flow transitions to turbulence for Re~325 even though the laminar solution with a linear profile is linearly stable for all Re (Reynolds number). One starting point for understanding this subcritical transition is the existence of invar
iant sets in the state space of the Navier Stokes equation, such as upper and lower branch equilibria and periodic and relative periodic solutions, that are quite distinct from the laminar solution. This article reports several heteroclinic connections between such objects and briefly describes a numerical method for locating heteroclinic connections. Computing such connections is essential for understanding the global dynamics of spatially localized structures that occur in transitional plane Couette flow. We show that the nature of streaks and streamwise rolls can change significantly along a heteroclinic connection.
We undertake a systematic exploration of recurrent patterns in a 1-dimensional Kuramoto-Sivashinsky system. For a small, but already rather turbulent system, the long-time dynamics takes place on a low-dimensional invariant manifold. A set of equilib
ria offers a coarse geometrical partition of this manifold. A variational method enables us to determine numerically a large number of unstable spatiotemporally periodic solutions. The attracting set appears surprisingly thin - its backbone are several Smale horseshoe repellers, well approximated by intrinsic local 1-dimensional return maps, each with an approximate symbolic dynamics. The dynamics appears decomposable into chaotic dynamics within such local repellers, interspersed by rapid jumps between them.
