Transition of fluid flow from orderly (laminar) to chaotic state (turbulent) has been a topic of
intense research over the last century and half. In fact, it is considered one of the unsolved
problem of classical physics, as many eminent scientists including Heisenberg, Kolmogorov, Landau and
many others have tried to solve this problem. In its recent developments, authors at HPCL,
Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur have tried to ascertain whether the turbulent state is a
consequence of determinism or randomness (stochasticity).

The research group at IIT Kanpur have now come out with definitive answers to some of
these questions by looking at a canonical problem of flow past a flat plate. Through their
early theoretical work on Bromwich contour integral method (developed also in IITK since
1990) in explaining formation of spatio-temporal wave front (also published in PRL, 2006)
and recent high accuracy computing methods of following the evolution of this front, they
did manage to recreate final turbulence via deterministic excitation of laminar flow.

So the wait may finally be over for many of the questions raised about turbulence!Also, with
this many branches of physics (and fluid mechanics in particular) will be rejuvenated. This
shows the importance of high accuracy computing's synergy with theoretical fluid mechanics.