Floquet theory for the stability of boundary layer flows (Q5903336)

The author studies systems, governed by a parabolic partial differential equations of the form \(Md\Phi /dt+Q\Phi =P(t)\Phi\) with M,Q,P being differential operators in space and with \(P(t+2\pi)=P(t).\) It is proved that the existence of Floquet solutions \(\Phi =e^{\lambda t}\Psi\) where \(\psi\) is \(2\pi\)-time-periodic, depends on the spectrum of the so-called period map U(t) (derived from the transition operator of a corresponding initial value problem). This spectrum consists of a continuous spectrum and of a point spectrum i.e. eigenvalues from which any instabilities in the periodic flow can be determined.