Nonlinear stability threshold for 3D compressible Couette flow

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Li, Rui, Wang, Fei, Xu, Lingda, Zhang, Zeren
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Li, Rui
Wang, Fei
Xu, Lingda
Zhang, Zeren
author_facet Li, Rui
Wang, Fei
Xu, Lingda
Zhang, Zeren
contents We establish the nonlinear stability threshold $O(ν^{3/2})$ for the three-dimensional Couette flow governed by the compressible Navier--Stokes equations. While stability thresholds are well understood in two dimensions for both compressible and incompressible flows, and in three dimensions for incompressible flows, the three-dimensional compressible case remains open due to additional structural features, strong mode interactions, and wave coupling. The proof is based on a refined frequency-space approach. For zero modes, we improve upon two-dimensional methods by clearly separating and precisely estimating the main contributions from diffusion waves, acoustic waves, and the lift-up mechanism, leading to a systematic way to handle their nonlinear coupling. For the non-zero modes, we introduce new multiplier estimates and a decomposition based on the structure of the compressible system, which allows us to track the interaction between dissipation and acoustic effects.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_07538
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Nonlinear stability threshold for 3D compressible Couette flow
Li, Rui
Wang, Fei
Xu, Lingda
Zhang, Zeren
Analysis of PDEs
We establish the nonlinear stability threshold $O(ν^{3/2})$ for the three-dimensional Couette flow governed by the compressible Navier--Stokes equations. While stability thresholds are well understood in two dimensions for both compressible and incompressible flows, and in three dimensions for incompressible flows, the three-dimensional compressible case remains open due to additional structural features, strong mode interactions, and wave coupling. The proof is based on a refined frequency-space approach. For zero modes, we improve upon two-dimensional methods by clearly separating and precisely estimating the main contributions from diffusion waves, acoustic waves, and the lift-up mechanism, leading to a systematic way to handle their nonlinear coupling. For the non-zero modes, we introduce new multiplier estimates and a decomposition based on the structure of the compressible system, which allows us to track the interaction between dissipation and acoustic effects.
title Nonlinear stability threshold for 3D compressible Couette flow
topic Analysis of PDEs
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.07538