Localization and spectral phase transition in an open advecting-diffusing three-dimensional Stokes flow

We study the steady-state characterization of an advecting-diffusing three-dimensional flow defined in the annular region between coaxial cylinders of finite length that can rotate independently. A phase transition occurs when the cylinder velocities vary, which controls the spectral properties of the dominant eigenvalue and eigenfunction of the advection-diffusion equation for high Péclet numbers. The localization abscissa of the dominant eigenfunction can be used as the order parameter of the transition, and is a continuous function of the wall velocity. Conversely, the exponent characterizing the scaling of the real part of the dominant eigenvalue displays a discontinuous behavior at the critical point. Theoretical arguments support the localization properties observed numerically and provide a simple explanation of this phenomenon. © 2008 The American Physical Society.