The onset of Taylor-like vortices in the flow induced by an impulsively started rotating cylinder

The onset of instability in the flow by an impulsively started rotating cylinder is analyzed under linear theory. It is well-known that at the critical Taylor number T_c=1695 the secondary flow in form of Taylor vortices sets in under the narrow-gap approximation. Here the dimensionless critical time _c to mark the onset of instability for TT_c is presented as a function of the Taylor number T. Available experimental data of water indicate that deviation of the velocity profiles from the primary flow occurs starting from a certain time 4_c. It seems evident that during _c4_c the secondary flow is very weak and the primary state of time-dependent annular Couette flow is maintained.