From steady solutions to chaotic flows in a Rayleigh-Bénard problem at moderate Rayleigh numbers

► We study the dynamics of a high-dimensional (O(104)) convection problem in a cube. ► At Pr=0.71 we identify six stable periodic orbits and an attracting two-torus. ► We find attracting chaotic dynamics at Pr=0.75 and 0.80 for low values of Ra. ► The mechanisms involved in the genesis of chaotic dynamics are explained.