Two-dimensional triangular model of transient growth

For $L=\left(\begin{array}{cc}{\lambda }_1& 0\\ 1& {\lambda }_2\end{array}\right)$ with distinct real negative eigenvalues, the matrix exponential is $A=\left(\begin{array}{cc}a& 0\\ b& d\end{array}\right)$, where $a=e^{{\lambda }_{1}t}$, $d=e^{{\lambda }_{2}t}$ and $b=(a-d)/({\lambda }_1-{\lambda }_2)$. The optimal energy amplification of a linear system isIts eigenvectors are nonorthogonal, and immediate energy growth occurs exactly when ${\lambda }_1{\lambda }_2<1/4$. If ${\lambda }_2>{\lambda }_1$, putting $\alpha =({\lambda }_2-{\lambda }_1{)}^{-1}$ gives $G(t)\sim (1+{\alpha }^2)e^{2{\lambda }_{2}t}$. The optimal asymptotic initial direction $(\alpha ,1)$ is an adjoint eigenvector, while the eventual state aligns with the right eigenvector $(0,1)$.

For $L=\left(\begin{array}{cc}-1/R& 1\\ 0& -1/(4R)\end{array}\right)$ with $R>1$, put $s=\sqrt{1-R^{-2}}$ and $q=(5-3s)/(5+3s)$. The optimal energy amplification of a linear system reaches its maximum atThe maximizing initial orientation is ${\rho }^{+}$ and the final orientation is ${\rho }^{-}$ from the orientation interval for transient energy growth. Taking $R\to \infty$ gives the displayed viscous-time and Reynolds-squared asymptotics. These constants belong to this specified triangular model, not to every non-normal matrix.

For $L=\left(\begin{array}{cc}-1/R& 1\\ 0& -1/(4R)\end{array}\right)$ and $R>1$, write $\rho =x_2/x_1$. The energy derivative is $x_1^2[-1/R+\rho -{\rho }^2/(4R)]$, positive exactly between the displayed orientations. Linear trajectories cross the sector from ${\rho }^{+}$ to ${\rho }^{-}$ because $\dot{\rho }=\rho [3/(4R)-\rho ]$. An energy-neutral rotational nonlinearity can reverse the crossing direction; the growth sector itself remains the same.

A nonlinear term $f(|x|)Nx$ with real skew-symmetric matrix $N$ contributes zero to the derivative of the quadratic energy $|x{|}^2/2$. It changes orientation rather than magnitude directly. If a separate linear generator is a non-normal matrix, that reorientation can still alter later transient growth, so energy cancellation alone does not make the nonlinear evolution equivalent to the linear one.