Hydrodynamic X-waves
Stationary wave groups exist in a range of nonlinear dispersive media, including optics, Bose-Einstein condensates, plasma, and hydrodynamics. We report experimental observations of nonlinear surface gravity X waves, i.e., X -shaped wave envelopes that propagate over long distances with constant...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Published: |
American Physical Society
2019
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| Summary: | Stationary wave groups exist in a range of nonlinear dispersive media, including optics, Bose-Einstein condensates, plasma, and hydrodynamics. We report experimental observations of nonlinear surface gravity X waves, i.e., X -shaped wave envelopes that propagate over long distances with constant form. These can be described by the 2 D + 1 nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which predicts a balance between dispersion and diffraction when the envelope (the arms of the X ) travel at ± arctan ( 1 / √ 2 ) ≈ ± 35.2 6 ° to the carrier wave. Our findings may help improve understanding the lifetime of extremes in directional seas and motivate further studies in other nonlinear dispersive media. |
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