An experimental investigation was made of the stability of a two-dimensional jet at low Reynolds numbers with extremely small residual disturbances both in and around the jet. The velocity distribution of a laminar jet is in agreement with Bickley's theoretical result. The stability and transition of a laminar jet are characterized by the Reynolds number based on the slit width and the maximum velocity of the jet. When the Reynolds number is less than 10, the whole jet is laminar. When the Reynolds number is between 10 and around 50, periodic velocity fluctuations are found in the jet. They die out as they travel downstream without developing into irregular fluctuations. When the Reynolds number exceeds about 50, periodic fluctuations develop into irregular, turbulent fluctuations. The frequency of the periodic fluctuation is roughly proportional to the square of the jet velocity.The stability of the jet against an artificially imposed disturbance was also investigated. Sound was used as an artificial disturbance. The disturbance is either amplified or damped in the jet depending on its frequency. The conventional stability theory was modified by considering the streamwise increase of Reynolds number. The experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical results.
