Dissipation-Induced Instability Phenomena in Infinite-Dimensional Systems

This paper develops a rigorous notion of dissipation-induced instability in infinite dimensions as an extension of the classical concept implicitly introduced by Thomson and Tait for finite degree of freedom mechanical systems over a century ago. Here we restrict ourselves to a particular form of infinite-dimensional systems—partial differential equations—whose inherent function-analytic differences from finite-dimensional systems make uncovering this notion more intricate. In building the concept of dissipation-induced instability in infinite dimensions we found Arnold’s and Yudovich’s nonlinear stability methods, for conservative and dissipative systems respectively, along with some new existence theory for solutions, to be the essential foundation. However, when proving the results for classical solutions, as motivated by their direct physical significance, we had to overcome a number of fundamental difficulties associated with existing stability analysis methods, which has led to new techniques. In particular, in this work we establish the connection of existence and general stability theories in strong and weak topologies and provide new insights into the physics and geometry of the dissipation-induced instability phenomena in infinite-dimensional systems. As a paradigm and the first infinite-dimensional example to be rigorously analyzed, we use a two-layer quasi-geostrophic beta-plane model, which describes the fundamental baroclinic instability in atmospheric and ocean dynamics; early formal linear approximate studies suggested that this system can be destabilized after the introduction of dissipation