第8回 非線形力学とその周辺セミナー
(Seminar on nonlinear mechanics)




Date : 21st April (Mon.), 1997 from 10:30am
4月21日(月)10時30分より

Place : Conference Room ( Room No.217 of Eng. Building No.8 )
数理工学会議室(工学部8号館(生協食堂の上)2階217号室)

Speaker : Karsten Trulsen
(Department of Mathematics, University of Bergen, Norway)

Title : Evolution of gravity waves in two and three dimensions predicted by a nonlinear Schrodinger equation for broader bandwidth

Abstract :
   The classical third-order nonlinear Schrodinger equation, as well as the modified fourth-order nonlinear Schrodinger equations of Dysthe (1979) and Brinch--Nielsen & Jonsson (1986) all suffer from insufficient resolution in bandwidth to fully capture the dispersive properties of typical ocean waves. Rather than resorting to computationally intensive integral equations or fully nonlinear integration, we extend the modified nonlinear Schrodinger equation to broader bandwidth (Trulsen & Dysthe 1996). The new equation for broader bandwidth enables us to study three-dimensional evolution of wave trains.
We have used the new model to study the frequency downshift of Stokes waves, first reported by Lake et al. (1977).
   Conservative models describing wave evolution in two dimensions predict a temporary downshift in the strongly modulated stage of the wave evolution following the initial modulational instability, but are not capable of describing a permanent downshift. It has therefore been commonly accepted that the downshift requires non-conservative effects like dissipation or wave breaking.
   Stokes waves are however unstable for perturbations transverse to their direction of propagation. Several experiments showing downshift, have been performed in tanks that are wide compared to the dominant wavelength. This suggests that a three-dimensional theory should be used to investigate the consequences of transverse modulation. We find that the evolution of Stokes waves is qualitatively different in two and three dimensions. The frequency downshift observed in wide tanks can be explained as a consequence of conservative three-dimensional wave evolution, and does not require dissipation or breaking.