Abstract

Evidence is presented for low-dimensional strange attractors in Couette-Taylor flow data. Computations of the largest Lyapunov exponent and metric entropy show that the system displays sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Although the phase space is very high dimensional, analysis of experimental data shows that motion is restricted to an attractor of dimension 5 for Reynolds numbers up to 30% above the onset of chaos. The Lyapunov exponent, entropy, and dimension all generally increase with Reynolds number.

Keywords

Lyapunov exponentAttractorReynolds numberPhase spacePhysicsStatistical physicsCorrelation dimensionComputationDimension (graph theory)Taylor–Couette flowClassical mechanicsFractal dimensionMathematical analysisMathematicsMechanicsFractalNonlinear systemTurbulenceQuantum mechanics

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Publication Info

Year
1983
Type
article
Volume
51
Issue
16
Pages
1442-1445
Citations
310
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A. Brandstäter, J. B. Swift, Harry L. Swinney et al. (1983). Low-Dimensional Chaos in a Hydrodynamic System. Physical Review Letters , 51 (16) , 1442-1445. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.51.1442

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DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.51.1442