Transition from the Couette-Taylor system to the plane Couette system

Abstract

We discuss the flow between concentric rotating cylinders in the limit of large radii where the system approaches plane Couette flow. We discuss how in this limit the linear instability that leads to the formation of Taylor vortices is lost and how the character of the transition approaches that of planar shear flows. In particular, a parameter regime is identified where fractal distributions of lifetimes and spatiotemporal intermittency occur. Experiments in this regime should allow us to study the characteristics of shear flow turbulence in a closed flow geometry.