Linear Stability and Subcritical Turbulence in Rotating Shear Flows

The relation between rotating plane Couette and Taylor-Couette flows is clarified. The identity of their linear stability limits is explained by considering the effect of the Coriolis force in the rotating frame. Experimental data are used to quantify the behavior of the minimum Reynolds number for subcritical turbulence as a function of rotation and curvature. This last dependence is understood through a phenomenological analysis, which also implies that the Coriolis force reduces the efficiency of subcritical turbulent transport with respect to nonrotating flows, as observed numerically.