What does dynamical systems theory teach us about fluids?

TL;DR

This paper reviews how molecular dynamics simulations of fluids reveal insights into their chaotic behavior through Lyapunov spectra, highlighting key findings and open questions in the field.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of Lyapunov spectra in fluid systems using molecular dynamics, emphasizing new insights into fluid chaos and stability.

Findings

Lyapunov spectra characterize fluid chaos

Differences between equilibrium and non-equilibrium states

Open questions in dynamical systems of fluids

Abstract

We use molecular dynamics simulations to compute the Lyapunov spectra of many-particle systems resembling simple fluids in thermal equilibrium and in non-equilibrium stationary states. Here we review some of the most interesting results and point to open questions.