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Weak and Strong Interactions between Internal Solitary Waves
Author(s) -
Gear J. A.,
Grimshaw R.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
studies in applied mathematics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1467-9590
pISSN - 0022-2526
DOI - 10.1002/sapm1984703235
Subject(s) - korteweg–de vries equation , internal wave , physics , nonlinear system , phase (matter) , gravity wave , classical mechanics , quantum electrodynamics , wave propagation , mechanics , quantum mechanics
The interaction of weakly nonlinear long internal gravity waves is studied. Weak interactions occur when the wave phase speeds are unequal; this case includes that of a head‐on collision. It is shown that each wave satisfies a Korteweg‐de Vries equation, and the main effect of the interaction is described by a phase shift. Strong interactions occur when the wave phase speeds are nearly equal although the waves belong to different modes. This case is described by a pair of coupled Korteweg‐de Vries equations, for which some preliminary numerical results are presented.