The state of the problem of elastic turbulence is critically discussed. It is shown that the development of elastic turbulence is associated with the transition of polymer systems to the high elastic state. Model experiments with a narrow‐MWD polybutadiene have been carried out. The method of vizualization of the flow in a flat slit with the aid of circular‐polarized light has been used. The results of polarization‐optical investigation are compared with the results of capillary viscometry and dynamic measurements at small amplitudes. It is shown, in accordance with theoretical predictions, that when a polymer passes from the fluid to the high elastic state with an increase in the shear rate, it ceases to behave as a fluid under shear. This is accompanied by various forms of flow perturbation at the duct exit and entrance and inside the duct. Perturbations at the duct entrance and exit are due to stress concentration in these zones. The transition of a polymer to the high elastic state near the walls inside the duct gives rise to the “stick‐slip” process or to continuous slippage along the duct walls, depending on the velocity of polymer movement. This can be clearly traced by the changes in the interference band pattern. Still higher velocities result in an intensive process of continuity break (rupture) in the polymer and in its chaotic movement in the duct as an aggregate of irregularly shaped lumps, which, relaxing, may form a continuous body again. Attention is drawn to the significance of these observations for a quantitative description of the viscosity anomaly of polymer systems and of the relationship between the viscosity anomaly with various flow irregularities and perturbations in such systems.

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