Observation of depression solitary

surface waves on a thin fluid layer

E. Falcon1, C. Laroche1 and S. Fauve 2

 1: Laboratoire de Physique, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon,
    46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon cedex 07, France

 2: Laboratoire de Physique Statistique, École Normale Supérieure,
    24 rue Lhomond, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France

Reference:

Physical Review Letters 89, 204501 (2002)

Abstract:

We report the observation of  depression solitary surface waves on a layer of mercury when its depth is thin enough compared to the capillary length. These waves, as well as the well known elevation solitary waves, are studied with a new measurement technique using inductive sensors. The shape of the solitary waves, their amplitude-dependent velocity and their damping rates by viscosity, are found in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

PACS.

47.35.+i, 92.10.Hm, 47.20.Ky, 68.03.Cd


 PDF file

See also Press items about: our works on depression solitary surface waves : Phys. Rev. Focus, 29 Oct. 2002 & Pour La Science, Feb. 2003.


Keywords: hump solitary waves ; hole solitary waves ; focusing ; defocusing ; non linear ; dispersion relation ; surface wave ; experiment ; solitary hole ; KdV; Korteweg : de Vries ; Russell ; soliton ; hydrodynamic



See also other publications (in French)