Feedback control of onset of turbulence in hydrodynamic systems

In this paper, we discuss the possibility of using feedback controls for delaying the onset of turbulence in a hydrodynamic system describable by the Navier-Stokes equations. Attention is focused on the Couette flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid between two rotating concentric cylinders. Some preliminary theoretical results and directions of our on-going study are discussed.