Model Reduction of the Nonlinear Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation

Reduced-order models of the nonlinear complex Ginzburg-Landau (CGL) equation are computed using a nonlinear generalization of balanced truncation. The method involves Galerkin projection of the nonlinear dynamics onto modes determined by balanced truncation of a linearized system and is compared to a standard method using projection onto proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modes computed from snapshots of nonlinear simulations. It is found that the nonlinear reduced-order models obtained using modes from linear balanced truncation capture very well the transient dynamics of the CGL equation and outperform POD models; i.e., a higher number of POD modes than linear balancing modes is typically necessary in order to capture the dynamics of the original system correctly. In addition, we find that the performance of POD models compares well to that of balanced truncation models when the degree of nonnormality in the system, in this case determined by the streamwise extent of a disturbance amplification region, is lower. Our findings therefore indicate that the superior performance of balanced truncation compared to POD/Galerkin models in capturing the input/output dynamics of linear systems extends to the case of a nonlinear system, both for the case of significant transient growth, which represents a basic model of boundary layer instabilities, and for a limit cycle case that represents a basic model of vortex shedding past a cylinder.