Heteroclinic and Homoclinic Connections in a Kolmogorov-Like Flow

Abstract

Recent studies suggest that unstable recurrent solutions of the Navier-Stokes equation provide new insights into dynamics of turbulent flows. In this study, we compute an extensive network of dynamical connections between such solutions in a weakly turbulent quasi-two-dimensional Kolmogorov flow that lies in the inversion-symmetric subspace. In particular, we find numerous isolated heteroclinic connections between different types of solutions -- equilibria, periodic, and quasi-periodic orbits -- as well as continua of connections forming higher-dimensional connecting manifolds. We also compute a homoclinic connection of a periodic orbit and provide strong evidence that the associated homoclinic tangle forms the chaotic repeller that underpins transient turbulence in the symmetric subspace.