2007/02/28 by A. de la Torre, Alberto de la Torre, Javier Burguete · 91 citations
Computer Science · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Bifurcation #Bistability #Classical mechanics #Condensed matter physics #Equator #Flow (mathematics) #Geometry #Mathematics #Mean flow #Mechanics #Noise (video) #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #Nonlinear system #Physics #Plane (geometry) #Precession #Quantum mechanics #Reynolds number #Rotation (mathematics) #Symmetry (geometry) #Turbulence #Vortex #physics.flu-dyn #stochastic dynamics and bifurcation
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.99.054101
published in Physical Review Letters 99(5), 054101 (American Physical Society) · Improved model, additional results and figures, accepted in PRL
arxiv created 2007/06/20 · openalex publication_date 2007/08/02 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
An experimental study of a turbulent von Kármán flow in a cylinder is presented. The mean flow is stationary up to a Reynolds number Re=10(4) where a bifurcation takes place. The new regime breaks some symmetries of the problem and becomes time dependent because of equatorial vortices moving with a precession movement. In the exact counterrotating case, a bistable regime appears and spontaneous reversals of the azimuthal velocity are registered. A three-well potential model with additive noise reproduces this dynamic. A regime of periodic response is observed when a very weak forcing is applied.