Bifurcations and the nature of transition to turbulence in active nematic channel flow

Confined active nematic systems exhibit an array of intriguing dynamical states, including spontaneous unidirectional flow, nontrivial periodic trajectories, and chaotic "active turbulence". In this work, we explore these states and the transitions between them in a 2D channel from a dynamical systems point of view using the nemato-hydrodynamic equations. In the low-moderate activity regime, we identify the sequences of bifurcations leading to the development of steady and periodic coherent flows. Moving towards the large activity regime, we calculate new unstable equilibria and periodic orbits, and discuss their role in characterizing the phenomenon of active turbulence.