Multiple localized states in centrifugally stable rotating flow

We report experimental and numerical results from investigations into the onset of novel localized cellular states in the centrifugally stable regime of Taylor–Couette flow at sufficiently high rates of counter-rotation of the outer cylinder. Quantitative comparison is made between experimental results and those obtained from numerical bifurcation studies of the steady axisymmetric Navier– Stokes equations. The onset of the vortices is smooth but they appear over a narrow range of Reynolds number. This enables the use of a suitable measure to produce excellent quantitative agreement between calculation and experiment. The numerical methods are also used to uncover evidence for a homoclinic snake which indicates rich multiplicity in the steady solution set. © 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3326076