Stokes waves with constant vorticity: I. Numerical computation

Periodic traveling waves are numerically computed in a constant vorticity flow subject to the force of gravity. The Stokes wave problem is formulated via a conformal mapping as a nonlinear pseudodifferential equation, involving a periodic Hilbert transform for a strip, and solved by the Newton‐GMRES method. For strong positive vorticity, in the finite or infinite depth, overhanging profiles are found as the amplitude increases and tend to a touching wave, whose surface contacts itself at the trough line, enclosing an air bubble; numerical solutions become unphysical as the amplitude increases further and make a gap in the wave speed versus amplitude plane; another touching wave takes over and physical solutions follow along the fold in the wave speed versus amplitude plane until they ultimately tend to an extreme wave, which exhibits a corner at the crest. Touching waves connected to zero amplitude are found to approach the limiting Crapper wave as the strength of positive vorticity increases unboundedly, while touching waves connected to the extreme waves approach the rigid body rotation of a fluid disk.     

Rotational waves generated by current‐topography interaction

We study nonlinear free‐surface rotational waves generated through the interaction of a vertically sheared current with a topography. Equivalently, the waves may be generated by a pressure distribution along the free surface. A forced Korteweg–de Vries equation (fKdV) is deduced incorporating these features. The weakly nonlinear, weakly dispersive reduced model is valid for small amplitude topographies. To study the effect of gradually increasing the topography amplitude, the free surface Euler equations are formulated in the presence of a variable depth and a sheared current of constant vorticity. Under constant vorticity, the harmonic velocity component is formulated in a simplified canonical domain, through the use of a conformal mapping which flattens both the free surface as well as the bottom topography. Critical, supercritical, and subcritical Froude number regimes are considered, while the bottom amplitude is gradually increased in both the irrotational and rotational wave regimes. Solutions to the fKdV model are compared to those from the Euler equations. We show that for rotational waves the critical Froude number is shifted away from 1. New stationary solutions are found and their stability tested numerically.     

Stability properties of steady water waves with vorticity

We present two stability analyses for exact periodic traveling water waves with vorticity. The first approach leads in particular to linear stability properties of water waves for which the vorticity decreases with depth. The second approach leads to a formal stability property for long water waves that have small vorticity and amplitude although we do not use a small‐amplitude or long‐wave approximation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

推广的β平面近似下带有外源和耗散强迫的非线性Boussinesq方程及其孤立波解

在推广的β平面近似下,从包含耗散和外源的准地转位涡方程出发,利用Gardner-Morikawa变换和弱非线性摄动展开法,推导出带有外源和耗散强迫的非线性Boussinesq方程去刻画非线性Rossby波振幅的演变和发展.利用修正的Jacobi椭圆函数展开法,得到Boussinesq方程的周期波解和孤立波解,从解的结构分析了推广的β效应、切变基本流、外源和耗散是影响非线性Rossby波的重要因素.     

Rossby Solitary Waves in the Presence of a Critical Layer

This study considers the evolution of weakly nonlinear long Rossby waves in a horizontally sheared zonal current. We consider a stable flow so that the nonlinear time scale is long. These assumptions enable the flow to organize itself into a large‐scale coherent structure in the régime where a competition sets in between weak nonlinearity and weak dispersion. This balance is often described by a Korteweg‐de‐Vries equation. The traditional assumption of a weak amplitude breaks down when the wave speed equals the mean flow velocity at a certain latitude, due to the appearance of a singularity in the leading‐order equation, which strongly modifies the flow in a critical layer. Here, nonlinear effects are invoked to resolve this singularity, because the relevant geophysical flows have high Reynolds numbers. Viscosity is introduced in order to render the nonlinear‐critical‐layer solution unique, but the inviscid limit is eventually taken. By the method of matched asymptotic expansions, this inner flow is matched at the edges of the critical layer with the outer flow. We will show that the critical‐layer–induced flow leads to a strong rearrangement of the related streamlines and consequently of the potential‐vorticity contours, particularly in the neighborhood of the separatrices between the open and closed streamlines. The symmetry of the critical layer vis‐à‐vis the critical level is also broken. This theory is relevant for the phenomenon of Rossby wave breaking and eventual saturation into a nonlinear wave. Spatially localized solutions are described by a Korteweg‐de‐Vries equation, modified by new nonlinear terms; depending on the critical‐layer shape, this leads to depression or elevation waves. The additional terms are made necessary at a certain order of the asymptotic expansion while matching the inner flow on the dividing streamlines. The new evolution equation supports a family of solitary waves. In this paper we describe in detail the case of a depression wave, and postpone for further discussion the more complex case of an elevation wave.     

Nonlinear Rayleigh-Taylor instability in magnetic fluids with uniform horizontal and vertical magnetic fields

A weakly nonlinear evolution of two dimensional wave packets on the surface of a magnetic fluid in the presence of an uniform magnetic field is presented, taking into account the surface tension. The method used is that of multiple scales to derive two partial differential equations. These differential equations can be combined to yield two alternate nonlinear Schrödinger equations. The first equation is valid near the cutoff wavenumber while the second equation is used to show that stability of uniform wave trains depends on the wavenumber, the density, the surface tension and the magnetic field. At the critical point, a generalized formulation of the evolution equation governing the amplitude is developed which leads to the nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation. From the latter equation, the various stability crteria are obtained.     

Nonlinear and linear instability of the Rossby-Haurwitz wave

As is known, the large-scale dynamics of barotropic atmosphere can approximately be described by the nonlinear barotropic vorticity equation. It is also well known that the Rossby-Haurwitz (RH) waves, being exact solutions to this equation, represent one of the main features of meteorological fields. Therefore the stability properties of the RH wave are of considerable interest for deeper understanding of the low-frequency variability of the atmosphere. Many works has been devoted to the barotropic instability of flows on a beta-plane and a sphere. However, mathematically, the nonlinear stability problem of the RH wave is still far from its complete solution. Indeed, some of the stability results have been obtained numerically, and hence, contain calculation errors. Severe truncation of perturbations used in the spectral stability analysis, though leads to interesting and useful conclusions, does not allow obtaining comprehensive results. The weak point of some analytical nonlinear instability studies consists in using inappropriate norms for perturbations. It should also be noted that a necessary condition for the linear instability of the RH wave was obtained only recently (Skiba, 2000). In the present work, the nonlinear stability of the RH wave in an ideal incompressible fluid on a rotating sphere is analytically studied. Let H(n) be a subspace of homogeneous spherical polynomials of degree n. Mathematically, a RH wave of degree n is the sum of a super-rotating flow of subspace H(1) and a homogeneous spherical polynomial of subspace H(n). First, we derive a conservation law for arbitrary RH-wave perturbations which asserts that any perturbation evolves in such a way that its kinetic energy E(t) and enstrophy q(t) decrease, remain constant or increase simultaneously. The law is used to divide all the perturbations into three invariant sets depending on the value of their mean spectral number k(t)=q(t)/E(t) introduced by Fjortoft (1953). These sets are denoted as M where k(t)¡n(n+1) (large-scale perturbations), N where k(t)¿n(n+1) (small-scale perturbations), and Z where k(t)=n(n+1) (boundary surface between the sets M and N). Note that Z includes one more invariant set, namely, the subspace H(n). The existence of invariant sets of perturbations allows us to study the RH wave instability in each set separately. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On the structure and growth rate of unstable modes to the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave

The normal mode instability study of a steady Rossby‐Haurwitz wave is considered both theoretically and numerically. This wave is exact solution of the nonlinear barotropic vorticity equation describing the dynamics of an ideal fluid on a rotating sphere, as well as the large‐scale barotropic dynamics of the atmosphere. In this connection, the stability of the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave is of considerable mathematical and meteorological interest. The structure of the spectrum of the linearized operator in case of an ideal fluid is studied. A conservation law for perturbations to the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave is obtained and used to get a necessary condition for its exponential instability. The maximum growth rate of unstable modes is estimated. The orthogonality of the amplitude of a non‐neutral or non‐stationary mode to the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave is shown in two different inner products. The analytical results obtained are used to test and discuss the accuracy of a numerical spectral method used for the normal mode stability study of arbitrary flow on a sphere. The comparison of the numerical and theoretical results shows that the numerical instability study method works well in case of such smooth solutions as the zonal flows and Rossby‐Haurwitz waves. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2005     

Applications of F-expansion to periodic wave solutions for a new Hamiltonian amplitude equation

We present an extended F-expansion method for finding periodic wave solutions of nonlinear evolution equations in mathematical physics, which can be thought of as a concentration of extended Jacobi elliptic function expansion method proposed more recently. By using the F-expansion, without calculating Jacobi elliptic functions, we obtain simultaneously many periodic wave solutions expressed by various Jacobi elliptic functions for the new Hamiltonian amplitude equation introduced by Wadati et al. When the modulus m approaches to 1 and 0, then the hyperbolic function solutions (including the solitary wave solutions) and trigonometric function solutions are also given respectively. As the parameter ε goes to zero, the new Hamiltonian amplitude equation becomes the well-known nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLS), and at least there are 37 kinds of solutions of NLS can be derived from the solutions of the new Hamiltonian amplitude equation.     

Cross-Diffusion Driven Instability in a Predator-Prey System with Cross-Diffusion

In this work we investigate the process of pattern formation induced by nonlinear diffusion in a reaction-diffusion system with Lotka-Volterra predator-prey kinetics. We show that the cross-diffusion term is responsible of the destabilizing mechanism that leads to the emergence of spatial patterns. Near marginal stability we perform a weakly nonlinear analysis to predict the amplitude and the form of the pattern, deriving the Stuart-Landau amplitude equations. Moreover, in a large portion of the subcritical zone, numerical simulations show the emergence of oscillating patterns, which cannot be predicted by the weakly nonlinear analysis. Finally, when the pattern invades the domain as a travelling wavefront, we derive the Ginzburg-Landau amplitude equation which is able to describe the shape and the speed of the wave.     

On singularity of a nonlinear variational sine-Gordon equation

We study a sine-Gordon-type of nonlinear variational wave equation whose wave speed is a sinusoidal function of the wave amplitude. This equation arises naturally from long waves on a dipole chain in the continuum limit, which provides a crude model for some polymers. Using characteristic methods, we describe a blow-up result for the one-dimensional nonlinear variational sine-Gordon equation, which shows that smooth solutions breakdown in finite time.     

Solitary waves in dusty plasmas with variable dust charge and two temperature ions

Propagation of nonlinear waves in dusty plasmas with variable dust charge and two temperature ions is analyzed. The Kadomtsev–Petviashivili (KP) equation is derived by using the reductive perturbation theory. A Sagdeev potential for this system has been proposed. This potential is used to study the stability conditions and existence of solitonic solutions. Also, it is shown that a rarefactive soliton can be propagates in most of the cases. The soliton energy has been calculated and a linear dispersion relation has been obtained using the standard normal-modes analysis. The effects of variable dust charge on the amplitude, width and energy of the soliton and its effects on the angular frequency of linear wave are discussed too. It is shown that the amplitude of solitary waves of KP equation diverges at critical values of plasma parameters. Solitonic solutions of modified KP equation with finite amplitude in this situation are derived.     

On linear and nonlinear Rossby waves in an ocean

This paper deals with recent developments of linear and nonlinear Rossby waves in an ocean. Included are also linear Poincaré, Rossby, and Kelvin waves in an ocean. The dispersion diagrams for Poincaré, Kelvin and Rossby waves are presented. Special attention is given to the nonlinear Rossby waves on a β-plane ocean. Based on the perturbation analysis, it is shown that the nonlinear evolution equation for the wave amplitude satisfies a modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The solution of this equation represents solitary waves in a dispersive medium. In other words, the envelope of the amplitude of the waves has a soliton structure and these envelope solitons propagate with the group velocity of the Rossby waves. Finally, a nonlinear analytical model is presented for long Rossby waves in a meridional channel with weak shear. A new nonlinear wave equation for the amplitude of large Rossby waves is derived in a region where fluid flows over the recirculation core. It is shown that the governing amplitude equations for the inner and outer zones are both KdV type, where weak nonlinearity is balanced by weak dispersion. In the inner zone, the nonlinear amplitude equation has a new term proportional to the 3/2 power of the difference between the wave amplitude and the critical amplitude, and this term occurs to account for a nonlinearity due to the flow over the vortex core. The solution of the amplitude equations with the linear shear flow represents the solitary waves. The present study deals with the lowest mode (n=1) analysis. An extension of the higher modes (n?2) of this work will be made in a subsequent paper.     

Output feedback vibration control of a string driven by a nonlinear actuator

In this paper, we design an observer-based output feedback controller to exponentially stabilize a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equation-wave partial differential equation-ordinary differential equation. An observer is designed to estimate the full states of the system using available boundary values of the partial differential equation. The output feedback controller is built via the combination of the ordinary differential equation backstepping which is applied to deal with the nonlinear ordinary differential equation, and the partial differential equation backstepping which is used for the wave partial differential equation-ordinary differential equation. The controller can be applied into vibration suppression of a string-payload system driven by an actuator with nonlinear characteristics. The global exponential stability of all states in the closed-loop system is proved by Lyapunov analysis. The numerical simulation illustrates the states of the actuator, string, payload and the observer errors are fast convergent to zero under the proposed output feedback controller.     

On the interaction of deep water waves and exponential shear currents

A train of periodic deep-water waves propagating on a steady shear current with a vertical distribution of vorticity is investigated by an analytic method, namely the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The magnitude of the vorticity varies exponentially with the magnitude of the stream function, while remaining constant on a particular streamline. The so-called Dubreil–Jacotin transformation is used to transfer the original exponentially nonlinear boundary-value problem in an unknown domain into an algebraically nonlinear boundary-value problem in a known domain. Convergent series solutions are obtained not only for small amplitude water waves on a weak current but also for large amplitude waves on a strong current. The nonlinear wave-current interaction is studied in detail. It is found that an aiding shear current tends to enlarge the wave phase speed, sharpen the wave crest, but shorten the maximum wave height, while an opposing shear current has the opposite effect. Besides, the amplitude of waves and fluid velocity decay over the depth more quickly on an aiding shear current but more slowly on an opposing shear current than that of waves on still water. Furthermore, it is found that Stokes criteria of wave breaking is still valid for waves on a shear current: a train of propagating waves on a shear current breaks as the fiuid velocity at crest equals the wave phase speed. Especially, it is found that the highest waves on an opposing shear current are even higher and steeper than that of waves on still water. Mathematically, this analytic method is rather general in principle and can be employed to solve many types of nonlinear partial differential equations with variable coefficients in science, finance and engineering.     

Vector Eigenfunction Expansions for Plane Channel Flows

The full nonlinear initial-boundary value problem for the evolution of disturbances in plane Poiseuille flow is considered. The problem is formulated in vector form using the normal velocity and normal vorticity as components. The solution is presented as an expansion in linear eigenmodes. These modes consist of both Orr-Sommerfeld modes and modes of the normal vorticity (Squire) equation. The case of degenerating eigenmodes is also considered and it is shown that the Benney-Gustavsson normal velocity-normal vorticity resonance is a special case of a degeneracy between the vector eigenmodes. The solution to the nonlinear problem is presented as an expansion in the linear eigenmodes as well as in modes of the self-adjoint part of the linear equation. The full nonlinear solution is further reduced to small systems of coupled amplitude equations using the center manifold theorem.     

On the interaction of deep water waves and exponential shear currents

A train of periodic deep-water waves propagating on a steady shear current with a vertical distribution of vorticity is investigated by an analytic method, namely the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The magnitude of the vorticity varies exponentially with the magnitude of the stream function, while remaining constant on a particular streamline. The so-called Dubreil–Jacotin transformation is used to transfer the original exponentially nonlinear boundary-value problem in an unknown domain into an algebraically nonlinear boundary-value problem in a known domain. Convergent series solutions are obtained not only for small amplitude water waves on a weak current but also for large amplitude waves on a strong current. The nonlinear wave-current interaction is studied in detail. It is found that an aiding shear current tends to enlarge the wave phase speed, sharpen the wave crest, but shorten the maximum wave height, while an opposing shear current has the opposite effect. Besides, the amplitude of waves and fluid velocity decay over the depth more quickly on an aiding shear current but more slowly on an opposing shear current than that of waves on still water. Furthermore, it is found that Stokes criteria of wave breaking is still valid for waves on a shear current: a train of propagating waves on a shear current breaks as the fiuid velocity at crest equals the wave phase speed. Especially, it is found that the highest waves on an opposing shear current are even higher and steeper than that of waves on still water. Mathematically, this analytic method is rather general in principle and can be employed to solve many types of nonlinear partial differential equations with variable coefficients in science, finance and engineering.     

Weakly Nonlocal Solitary Waves in a Singularly Perturbed Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation

We consider the nonlinear Schrödinger equation perturbed by the addition of a third-derivative term whose coefficient constitutes a small parameter. It is known from the work of Wai et al. [1] that this singular perturbation causes the solitary wave solution of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation to become nonlocal by the radiation of small-amplitude oscillatory waves. The calculation of the amplitude of these oscillatory waves requires the techniques of exponential asymptotics. This problem is re-examined here and the amplitude of the oscillatory waves calculated using the method of Borel summation. The results of Wai et al. [1] are modified and extended.     

Rossby Waves on a Shear Flow with Recirculation Cores

Large-amplitude Rossby waves riding on a background flow with a weak shear can be calculated up to a critical amplitude for which the meridional velocity, in a frame traveling with the wave, approaches zero at some point. Here we consider waves with an amplitude slightly greater than the critical amplitude by incorporating a region of recirculating fluid (vortex core) near this critical point. The effect of the vortex core is to introduce an extra nonlinear term into the equation for the wave amplitude proportional to the 3/2 power of the difference between the wave amplitude and the critical amplitude. The main effect due to the vortex core is a broadening of the wave profile. Furthermore, we show that the vortex core family has a limiting amplitude, with the limiting amplitude corresponding to a semi-infinite bore.     

完整Coriolis力作用下带有外源强迫的非线性ZK方程

在正压流体中,从包含完整Coriolis参数的准地转位涡方程出发,在弱非线性长波近似下,采用多时空尺度和摄动方法,推导出大气非线性Rossby波振幅演变满足带有外源强迫的二维Zakharov-Kuznetsov(ZK)方程.然后利用Jacobi椭圆函数展开法,求解了ZK方程的椭圆正弦波解和孤立波解.分析结果表明,Coriolis参数的水平分量将影响二维Rossby波传播的频率特征,而外源不仅对二维Rossby波动的传播的频率有影响,对振幅也产生一个调制作用.