Random sound waves in a weakly stratified atmosphere

The influence of random mass density and velocity fields on the frequencies and amplitudes of the sound waves that propagate along a constant gravity field is examined in the limit of weak random fields, small amplitude oscillations and a weakly stratified medium. Using a perturbative method, we derive dispersion relations from which we conclude that the effect of a space-dependent random mass density field is to attenuate sound waves. Frequencies of these waves are higher than in the case of a coherent medium. A time-dependent random mass density field increases frequencies and amplifies the sounds waves. On the other hand, a space-dependent random flow reduces the wave frequencies and attenuates the sound waves. The time-dependent random flow raises the frequencies of the sound waves and amplifies their amplitudes. In the limit of the gravity-free medium the above results are in an agreement with the former findings.     

Random generation of coherent solitary waves from incoherent waves

The random generation of coherent solitary waves from incoherent waves in a medium with an instantaneous nonlinearity has been observed. One excites a propagating incoherent spin wave packet in a magnetic film strip and observes the random appearance of solitary wave pulses. These pulses are as coherent as traditional solitary waves, but with random timing and a random peak amplitude.     

A General Framework for Localization of Classical Waves: II. Random Media

We study localization of classical waves in random media in the general framework introduced in Part I of this work. This framework allows for two random coefficients, encompasses acoustic waves with random position dependent compressibility and mass density, elastic waves with random position dependent Lamé moduli and mass density, electromagnetic waves with random position dependent magnetic permeability and dielectric constant, and allows for anisotropy. We show exponential localization (Anderson localization) and strong Hilbert–Schmidt dynamical localization for random perturbations of periodic media with a spectral gap. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Numerical simulations of random sound waves

We perform one-dimensional numerical simulations of both driven and impulsively generated sound waves propagating through a medium whose mass density admits time-independent, random fluctuations. While the amplitude of both types of wave is always attenuated, driven sound waves can be either retarded or speeded up depending on their wavenumber and amplitude and on the strength of the random field. The speed of a pulse propagating in the random medium is also altered, in agreement with the findings for the driven waves. The concomitant action of nonlinearity and randomness results in wave speeding for wavenumbers which are of the order of the size of an average random density fluctuation, whereas it gives retardation for larger wavenumbers.     

Localization of Classical Waves II: Electromagnetic Waves

We consider electromagnetic waves in a medium described by a position dependent dielectric constant . We assume that is a random perturbation of a periodic function and that the periodic Maxwell operator has a gap in the spectrum, where . We prove the existence of localized waves, i.e., finite energy solutions of Maxwell's equations with the property that almost all of the wave's energy remains in a fixed bounded region of space at all times. Localization of electromagnetic waves is a consequence of Anderson localization for the self-adjoint operators . We prove that, in the random medium described by , the random operator exhibits Anderson localization inside the gap in the spectrum of . This is shown even in situations when the gap is totally filled by the spectrum of the random operator; we can prescribe random environments that ensure localization in almost the whole gap. Received: 1 July 1996 / Accepted: 15 August 1996     

Propagation of longitudinal waves in a random binary rod

Propagation of waves in a composite elastic rod consisting of rods with alternating properties of random length is considered. We calculate exactly the Lyapunov exponent and find its short and long wave asymptotics. Finally, we discuss conditions for propagation and localization of waves in a binary random medium.     

Transverse or off-axis localization of electromagnetic waves in random one- and two-dimensional dielectric systems which are periodic on average

We study the transverse or off-axis localization of electromagnetic waves for several different random dielectric systems which are periodic on average. Unlike previous scalar wave treatments of transverse localization, in the present work we present results based on a full vector treatment of the electromagnetic fields based on Maxwell's equations. In a first system, we consider a random semi-infinite array of slabs with plane waves or finite beams of electromagnetic waves obliquely incident on the slab surfaces. The localization of the fields in a region near the surface of illumination is studied as a function of the oblique angle of incidence. In a second system, an array of semi-infinite slabs with random thickness is considered with an incident finite beam of electromagnetic waves initially directed parallel to the slab surfaces. The spreading of the beam width is computed as it propagates through the array of semi-infinite slabs. In a final system, we consider a semi-infinite array of random dielectric rods (2D system) with obliquely incident plane waves. The localization length of the plane-wave fields is computed as a function of the oblique angle of incidence and as a function of the strength of the disorder of the dielectric medium. All the random media we consider, when averaged over their randomness, are periodic on average. The above systems are studied for both p- and s-polarizations of incident electromagnetic waves, and the difference in the transverse localization of the electromagnetic field for these two polarizations is determined.     

Reflection and transmission of plane waves at the interface between anisotropic random discrete media

The Maxwell equations are solved for a random discrete medium using the single-scattering approximation and the condition of immersion in a maximally packed medium. The reflection and transmission factors of plane waves at the interface between vacuum and a random discrete anisotropic medium are determined. The calculated and experimental results on reflection and transmission of plane waves near the edge of a forest as an example of natural anisotropy of a random discrete medium are compared.     

Transmission of waves by a nonlinear random medium

We study analytically and numerically the effect of nonlinearity on transmission of waves through a random medium. We introduce and analyze quantities associated with the scattering problem that clarify the lack of uniqueness due to the nonlinearity as well as the localization of waves due to the random inhomogeneities. We show that nonlinearity tends to delocalize the waves and that for very large scattering regions the average transmitted energy is small.     

Acoustic waves in random fields

The effect of space- and time-dependent random mass density, velocity, and pressure fields on frequencies and amplitudes of acoustic waves is considered by means of the analytical perturbative method. The analytical results, which are valid for weak fluctuations and long wavelength sound waves, reveal frequency and amplitude alteration, the effect of which depends on the type of random field. In particular, the effect of a random mass density field is to increase wave frequencies. Space-dependent random velocity and pressure fields reduce wave frequencies. While space-dependent random fields attenuate wave amplitudes, their time-dependent counterparts lead to wave amplification. In another example, sound waves that are trapped in the vertical direction but are free to propagate horizontally are affected by a space-dependent random mass density field. This effect depends on the direction along which the field is varying. A random field, which varies along the horizontal direction, does not couple vertically standing modes but increases their frequencies and attenuates amplitudes. These modes are coupled by a random field which depends on the vertical coordinate, but the dispersion relation remains the same as in the case of the deterministic medium.     

Stochastic functional analysis of propagation and localisation of cylindrical waves in a two-dimensional random medium

Propagation and localisation of cylindrical waves in a two-dimensional (2D) isotropic and homogeneous random medium is studied using the stochastic functional approach. By expanding the random permittivity fluctuation in the form of a Wiener integral equation, and representing the wave fields by a linear combination of outgoing and incoming waves, the scalar Helmholtz equation is solved in the cylindrical coordinates system. An analytical expression of the cylindrical wave is derived and demonstrates the localisation phenomenon, as well as the wavenumber fluctuation in the random medium. Comparing with the waves in non-random medium, the wave transfer equation between plane wave and cylindrical wave in random medium shows an additional exponential factor to indicate the modulation effect owing to the medium randomness in both the amplitude and phase. Numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the functional dependence of the localisation phenomena.     

Evolution of basic equations for nearshore wave field

In this paper, a systematic, overall view of theories for periodic waves of permanent form, such as Stokes and cnoidal waves, is described first with their validity ranges. To deal with random waves, a method for estimating directional spectra is given. Then, various wave equations are introduced according to the assumptions included in their derivations. The mild-slope equation is derived for combined refraction and diffraction of linear periodic waves. Various parabolic approximations and time-dependent forms are proposed to include randomness and nonlinearity of waves as well as to simplify numerical calculation. Boussinesq equations are the equations developed for calculating nonlinear wave transformations in shallow water. Nonlinear mild-slope equations are derived as a set of wave equations to predict transformation of nonlinear random waves in the nearshore region. Finally, wave equations are classified systematically for a clear theoretical understanding and appropriate selection for specific applications.     

Effect of the illumination region of targets on waves scattering in random media with H-polarization

This paper addresses some parameters that have a significant effect on wave scattering in random media. These parameters are: target configuration, including size and curvature; random media strength, represented in the spatial coherence length; and incident wave polarization. Here, I present numerical calculations for the radar cross-section (RCS) of conducting targets and analyze the backscattering enhancement with different configurations. I postulate a concave illumination region and consider targets taking large sizes of about five wavelengths. In this aspect, waves scattering from targets are assumed to propagate in free space and a random medium with H-polarization. This polarization produces what is well known as creeping waves which in turn have an additional effect on the scattering waves that is absent in the case of E-polarization.     

Freak waves in random oceanic sea states.

Freak waves are very large, rare events in a random ocean wave train. Here we study their generation in a random sea state characterized by the Joint North Sea Wave Project spectrum. We assume, to cubic order in nonlinearity, that the wave dynamics are governed by the nonlinear Schr?dinger (NLS) equation. We show from extensive numerical simulations of the NLS equation how freak waves in a random sea state are more likely to occur for large values of the Phillips parameter alpha and the enhancement coefficient gamma. Comparison with linear simulations is also reported.     

Hidden Variables and the Nature of Quantum Statistics

It is shown that the nature of quantum statistics can be clarified by assuming the existence of a background of random gravitational fields and waves, distributed isotropically in space. This background is responsible for correlating phases of oscillations of identical microobjects. If such a background of random gravitational fields and waves is considered as hidden variables, then taking it into account leads to Bell-type inequalities that are fairly consistent with experimental data.     

Second-order solutions for random interfacial waves in N-layer density-stratified fluid with steady uniform currents

In the present paper, the random interfacial waves in N-layer density-stratified fluids moving at different steady uniform speeds are researched by using an expansion technique, and the second-order asymptotic solutions of the random displacements of the density interfaces and the associated velocity potentials in N-layer fluid are presented based on the small amplitude wave theory. The obtained results indicate that the wave-wave second-order nonlinear interactions of the wave components and the second-order nonlinear interactions between the waves and currents are described. As expected, the solutions include those derived by Chen （2006） as a special case where the steady uniform currents of the N-layer fluids are taken as zero, and the solutions also reduce to those obtained by Song （2005） for second-order solutions for random interfacial waves with steady uniform currents if N = 2.     

The Effects Induced by Turbulence and Dust Storms on Millimeter Waves

Dust storms and turbulence consist of a random medium system, its effects on milimeter waves propagation are studied. Attenuation of millimeter waves, its phase shift and cross- polar discrimination are presented. Results show that dust storms mainly effects XPD and phase shift of millimeter waves, turbulence chiefly produces attenuation, in mediocre fluctuation.     

Extended acoustic waves in diluted random systems

In this paper we study the propagation of acoustic waves in an one-dimensional diluted random media which is composed of two interpenetrating chains with pure and random elasticity. We considered a discrete one-dimensional version of the wave equation where the elasticity distribution appears as an effective spring constant. By using a matrix recursive reformulation we compute the localization length within the band of allowed frequencies. In addition, we apply a second-order finite difference method for both time and spatial variables, and study the nature of the waves that propagate in the chain. We numerically demonstrate that the diluted random elasticity distribution promotes extended acoustic modes at high-frequencies.     

TM plane wave scattering and diffraction from a randomly rough half-plane: (part II) An evaluation of the diffraction kernel

In a previous paper (part I), it has been shown that a random wavefield from a randomly rough half-plane for a TM plane wave incidence is written in terms of a Wiener-Hermite expansion with three types of Fourier integrals. This paper studies a concrete representation of the random wavefield by an approximate evaluation of such Fourier integrals, and statistical properties of scattering and diffraction. For a Gaussian roughness spectrum, intensities of the coherent wavefield and the first-order incoherent wavefield are calculated and shown in figures. It is then found that the coherent scattering intensity decreases in the illumination side, but is almost invariant in the shadow side. The incoherent scattering intensity spreads widely in the illumination side, and have ripples at near the grazing angle. Moreover, a major peak at near the antispecular direction, and associated ripples appear in the shadow side. The incoherent scattering intensity increases rapidly at near the random half-plane. These new phenomena for the incoherent scattering are caused by couplings between TM guided waves supported by a slightly random surface and edge diffracted waves excited by a plane wave incidence or by free guided waves on a flat plane without any roughness.