Standing waves near the Kolmogorov flow (Q960706)

From the text: Consider the two-dimensional viscous incompressible flow caused by an external force \(\sigma \mathbf F(x)\), where \(x=(x_1,x_2)\in \mathbb R^2\). The Navier-Stokes equations governing this flow can be written as the system \[ \frac{\partial\rho u_i}{\partial t}+ \frac{\partial\Pi_{ij}}{\partial x_j}=\rho \sigma F_i, \quad \frac{\partial u_j}{\partial x_j}=0 \tag{1} \] with the momentum flux density tensor \(\Pi_{ij}=\rho\,u_iu_j+q\delta_{ij}-\rho\nu(\partial_{x_j}u_i+\partial_{x_i}u_j)\). Here, \(\mathbf u=(u_1,u_2)^T\) is the velocity field, \(q\) is the pressure, \(\rho\) is the density, and \(\nu\) is the viscosity. In the 1950s, Kolmogorov considered the case where \(\mathbf F\) satisfies a periodicity condition and The vector \((u,p)\) also satisfies a periodicity condition \[ \mathbf u(t,x_1,x_2)=\mathbf u(t,x_1,x_2+2\pi), \quad p(t,x_1,x_2)=p(t,x_1,x_2+2\pi) \tag{2} \] instead of the usual impermeability conditions specified on the boundaries. The stability of the stationary solution was considered in the cited articles of \textit{L. D. Meshalkin} and \textit{Ya. G. Sinai} [PMM, J. Appl. Math. Mech. 25, 1700--1705 (1961); translation from Prikl. Mat. Mekh. 25, 1140--1143 (1961; Zbl 0108.39501)], and \textit{V. I. Yudovich} [Chislennye Metody Reshen. Zadach Mat. Fiz., Moskva, 242--249 (1966; Zbl 0209.29102)]. Specifically, for sufficiently high Reynolds numbers it was shown that the Kolmogorov flow is unstable with respect to \((2\pi/\alpha)\)-periodic perturbations in \(x_1\). Moreover, the neutral stability curve \(R_c(\alpha)\) is monotone and \(R_0 = \min_{\alpha\in[0,1]}R_c(\alpha)\) is reached at \(\alpha = 0\). For this reason, the analysis of solutions in an infinite strip \(K\) is of special interest as concerning the loss of stability and bifurcation of the Kolmogorov flow in a neighborhood of the instability threshold. In this paper, we seek all time-independent solutions to problem (1), (2) in \(K\) that are \(x_1\)-uniformly close to the basic stationary solution. For related work by the same authors see Asymptotic Anal. 60, No. 3--4, 185--211 (2008; Zbl 1173.35093).