We analyse the long-time evolution of the three-dimensional flow in a closed
cubic turbulent Rayleigh-B\'{e}nard convection cell via a Koopman eigenfunction
analysis. A data-driven basis derived from diffusion kernels known in machine
learning is employed here to represent a regularized generator of the unitary
Koopman group in the sense of a Galerkin approximation. The resulting Koopman
eigenfunctions can be grouped into subsets in accordance with the discrete
symmetries in a cubic box. In particular, a projection of the velocity field
onto the first group of eigenfunctions reveals the four stable large-scale
circulation (LSC) states in the convection cell. We recapture the preferential
circulation rolls in diagonal corners and the short-term switching through roll
states parallel to the side faces which have also been seen in other
simulations and experiments. The diagonal macroscopic flow states can last as
long as a thousand convective free-fall time units. In addition, we find that
specific pairs of Koopman eigenfunctions in the secondary subset obey enhanced
oscillatory fluctuations for particular stable diagonal states of the LSC. The
corresponding velocity field structures, such as corner vortices and swirls in
the midplane, are also discussed via spatiotemporal reconstructions.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures, article in press at Journal of Fluid Mechanic