Hydrodynamic turbulence in quasi-Keplerian rotating flows
  We report a direct-numerical-simulation study of Taylor-Couette flow in the
quasi-Keplerian regime at shear Reynolds numbers up to $\mathcal{O}(10^5)$.
Quasi-Keplerian rotating flow has been investigated for decades as a simplified
model system to study the origin of turbulence in accretion disks that is not
fully understood. The flow in this study is axially periodic and thus the
experimental end-wall effects on the stability of the flow are avoided. Using
optimal linear perturbations as initial conditions, our simulations find no
sustained turbulence: the strong initial perturbations distort the velocity
profile and trigger turbulence that eventually decays.
