Modulated wave packets and envelope solitary structures in complex plasmas

A theoretical study is presented of the nonlinear amplitude modulation of waves propagating in unmagnetized plasmas contaminated by charged dust particles. Distinct well-known dusty plasma modes are explicitly considered, namely, the dust-acoustic wave, the dust-ion acoustic wave, and transverse dust-lattice waves. Using a multiple-scale technique, a nonlinear Schrodinger-type equation is derived, describing the evolution of the wave amplitude. A stability analysis reveals the possibility for modulational instability to occur, possibly leading to the formation of different types of envelope-localized excitations (solitary waves), under conditions which depend on the wave dispersion laws and intrinsic dusty plasma parameters.

Solitary and blow-up electrostatic excitations in rotating magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas

The nonlinear dynamics of a rotating magnetoplasma consisting of electrons, positrons and stationary positive ions is considered. The basic set of hydrodynamic and Poisson equations are reduced to a Zakharov-Kuznetsov (ZK) equation for the electric potential. The ZK equation is solved by applying an improved modified extended tanh-function method (2008 Phys. Lett. A 372 5691) and its characteristics are investigated. A set of new solutions are derived, including localized solitary waves, periodic nonlinear waveforms and divergent (explosive) pulses. The characteristics of these nonlinear excitations are investigated in detail.

Arbitrary amplitude ion-acoustic solitary excitations in the presence of excess superthermal electrons

Velocity distribution functions with an excess of superthermal particles are commonly observed in space plasmas, and are effectively modeled by a kappa distribution. They are also found in some laboratory experiments. In this paper we obtain existence conditions for and some characteristics of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a plasma composed of cold ions and kappa-distributed electrons, where kappa>3/2 represents the spectral index. As is the case for the usual Maxwell-Boltzmann electrons, only positive potential solitons are found, and, as expected, in the limit of large kappa one recovers the usual range of possible soliton Mach numbers, viz., 1 < M < 1.58. For lower values of kappa, modeling the presence of a greater superthermal component, the range of accessible Mach numbers is reduced. It is found that the amplitude of the largest possible solitons that may be generated in a given plasma (corresponding to the highest allowed Mach number for the given plasma composition) falls off with decreasing kappa, i.e., an increasing superthermal component. On the other hand, at fixed Mach number, both soliton amplitude and profile steepness increase as kappa is decreased. These changes are seen to be important particularly for kappa < 4, i.e., when the electrons have a "hard" spectrum.

A Schamel equation for ion acoustic waves in superthermal plasmas

An investigation of the propagation of ion acoustic waves in nonthermal plasmas in the presence of trapped electrons has been undertaken. This has been motivated by space and laboratory plasma observations of plasmas containing energetic particles, resulting in long-tailed distributions, in combination with trapped particles, whereby some of the plasma particles are confined to a finite region of phase space. An unmagnetized collisionless electron-ion plasma is considered, featuring a non-Maxwellian-trapped electron distribution, which is modelled by a kappa distribution function combined with a Schamel distribution. The effect of particle trapping has been considered, resulting in an expression for the electron density. Reductive perturbation theory has been used to construct a KdV-like Schamel equation, and examine its behaviour. The relevant configurational parameters in our study include the superthermality index κ and the characteristic trapping parameter β. A pulse-shaped family of solutions is proposed, also depending on the weak soliton speed increment u₀. The main modification due to an increase in particle trapping is an increase in the amplitude of solitary waves, yet leaving their spatial width practically unaffected. With enhanced superthermality, there is a decrease in both amplitude and width of solitary waves, for any given values of the trapping parameter and of the incremental soliton speed. Only positive polarity excitations were observed in our parametric investigation. 

Numerical modelling of two-way propagation of non-linear dispersive waves

We describe and implement a fully discrete spectral method for the numerical solution of a class of non-linear, dispersive systems of Boussinesq type, modelling two-way propagation of long water waves of small amplitude in a channel. For three particular systems, we investigate properties of the numerically computed solutions; in particular we study the generation and interaction of approximate solitary waves.

Stability of periodic travelling shallow-water waves determined by Newton`s equation

We study the existence and stability of periodic travelling-wave solutions for generalized Benjamin-Bona-Mahony and Camassa-Holm equations. To prove orbital stability, we use the abstract results of Grillakis-Shatah-Strauss and the Floquet theory for periodic eigenvalue problems.

Stability and Instability of Solitary Wave Solutions of a Nonlinear Dispersive System of Benjamin-Bona-Mahony Type

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 35B35, 35B40, 35Q35, 76B25, 76E30.

Supersolid and solitonic phases in the one-dimensional extended Bose-Hubbard model

We report our findings on the quantum phase transitions in cold bosonic atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice using the finite-size density-matrix renormalization-group method in the framework of the extended Bose-Hubbard model. We consider wide ranges of values for the filling factors and the nearest-neighbor interactions. At commensurate fillings, we obtain two different types of charge-density wave phases and a Mott insulator phase. However, departure from commensurate fillings yields the exotic supersolid phase where both the crystalline and the superfluid orders coexist. In addition, we obtain the signatures for the solitary waves and the superfluid phase.

Validity ranges of interfacial wave theories in a two-layer fluid system

In the present paper, we endeavor to accomplish a diagram, which demarcates the validity ranges for interfacial wave theories in a two-layer system, to meet the needs of design in ocean engineering. On the basis of the available solutions of periodic and solitary waves, we propose a guideline as principle to identify the validity regions of the interfacial wave theories in terms of wave period T, wave height H, upper layer thickness d(1), and lower layer thickness d(2), instead of only one parameter-water depth d as in the water surface wave circumstance. The diagram proposed here happens to be Le Mehautes plot for free surface waves if water depth ratio r = d(1)/d(2) approaches to infinity and the upper layer water density rho(1) to zero. On the contrary, the diagram for water surface waves can be used for two-layer interfacial waves if gravity acceleration g in it is replaced by the reduced gravity defined in this study under the condition of sigma = (rho(2) - rho(1))/rho(2) -> 1.0 and r > 1.0. In the end, several figures of the validity ranges for various interfacial wave theories in the two-layer fluid are given and compared with the results for surface waves.

非传播孤立波的数值模拟

非传播孤立波是近年来由中国学者发现的一种独特的孤立水波。本文通过数值求解非传播孤立波目前公认的控制方程-Miles导出的一个带共轭项的非线性立方Schrodinger方程，对非传播孤立波进行数值模拟。本文针对非传播孤立波的各种性质，作了大量的数值计算工作，并与实验观察的现象及人们对非传播孤立波的理论研究结果进行了比较和分析。为了得到稳定的非传播孤立波，本文讨论了Miles方程中的线性阻尼系数a的值，计算表明，线性阻尼a对能否形成稳定的非传播孤立波影响很大，在某些情况下，Laedke等人提出的Miles方程的非传播孤立波解的稳定性条件与我们对Miles方程的数值模拟的结果相当一致，a可在满足稳定性条件的区间内取值，但也发现在某些情况下Laedke等人的稳定性条件与我们的数值模拟不完全符合，证明Laedke等人关于非传播孤立波的稳定性条件只是一个必要条件，而不是充分条件。本文研究了两个非传播孤立波的相互作用，数值模拟表明，两个波的作用模式依赖于系统的参数，只有适当大小的外驱动频率和振幅及线性阻尼a可算出两个非传播孤立波周而复始的相互作用现象来，参数不合适时，两个波可能最终合并为一个非传播孤立波而不再分离，也可能彼此不发生作用，保持各自的独立。对不同的初始扰动及其演化的计算表明，要形成单个稳定的非传播孤立波，则初始扰动必须适当，否则扰动可能消失或发展成多个孤立波。关于形成非传播孤立波所需的外驱动条件，计算结果表明，只有适当大小的外驱动频率和振幅可形成稳定的非传播孤立波，数值结果可以描述驱动频率的上限和驱动振幅的上下限，但无法描述驱动频率的下限。我们的数值模拟工作说明Miles方程确实较好的描述了非传播孤立波的物理模型，该方程可以解释许多关于非传播孤立波的物理特性。但Miles方程无法对非传播孤立波的某些实验现象作出解释，因而有待于进一步研究改进。

Analysis and optimization of stress wave propagation in two-dimensional granular crystals with defects

Granular crystals are compact periodic assemblies of elastic particles in Hertzian contact whose dynamic response can be tuned from strongly nonlinear to linear by the addition of a static precompression force. This unique feature allows for a wide range of studies that include the investigation of new fundamental nonlinear phenomena in discrete systems such as solitary waves, shock waves, discrete breathers and other defect modes. In the absence of precompression, a particularly interesting property of these systems is their ability to support the formation and propagation of spatially localized soliton-like waves with highly tunable properties. The wealth of parameters one can modify (particle size, geometry and material properties, periodicity of the crystal, presence of a static force, type of excitation, etc.) makes them ideal candidates for the design of new materials for practical applications. This thesis describes several ways to optimally control and tailor the propagation of stress waves in granular crystals through the use of heterogeneities (interstitial defect particles and material heterogeneities) in otherwise perfectly ordered systems. We focus on uncompressed two-dimensional granular crystals with interstitial spherical intruders and composite hexagonal packings and study their dynamic response using a combination of experimental, numerical and analytical techniques. We first investigate the interaction of defect particles with a solitary wave and utilize this fundamental knowledge in the optimal design of novel composite wave guides, shock or vibration absorbers obtained using gradient-based optimization methods.

Wave uplift pressures on horizontal platforms

The major objective of the study has been to investigate in detail the rapidly-varying peak uplift pressure and the slowly-varying positive and negative uplift pressures that are known to be exerted by waves against the underside of a horizontal pier or platform located above the still water level, but not higher than the crests of the incident waves.

In a "two-dimensional" laboratory study conducted in a 100-ft long by 15-in.-wide by 2-ft-deep wave tank with a horizontal smooth bottom, individually generated solitary waves struck a rigid, fixed, horizontal platform extending the width of the tank. Pressure transducers were mounted flush with the smooth soffit, or underside, of the platform. The location of the transducers could be varied.

The problem of a d equate dynamic and spatial response of the transducers was investigated in detail. It was found that unless the radius of the sensitive area of a pressure transducer is smaller than about one-third of the characteristic width of the pressure distribution, the peak pressure and the rise-time will not be recorded accurately. A procedure was devised to correct peak pressures and rise-times for this transducer defect.

The hydrodynamics of the flow beneath the platform are described qualitatively by a si1nple analysis, which relates peak pressure and positive slowly-varying pressure to the celerity of the wave front propagating beneath the platform, and relates negative slowly-varying pressure to the process by which fluid recedes from the platform after the wave has passed. As the wave front propagates beneath the platform, its celerity increases to a maximum, then decreases. The peak pressure similarly increases with distance from the seaward edge of the platform, then decreases.

Measured peak pressure head, always found to be less than five times the incident wave height above still water level, is an order of magnitude less than reported shock pressures due to waves breaking against vertical walls; the product of peak pressure and rise-time, considered as peak impulse, is of the order of 20% of reported shock impulse due to waves breaking against vertical walls. The maximum measured slowly-varying uplift pressure head is approximately equal to the incident wave height less the soffit clearance above still water level. The normalized magnitude and duration of negative pressure appears to depend principally on the ratio of soffit clearance to still water depth and on the ratio of platform length to still water depth.

Influence of the earth rotation on the interfacial wave solutions and wave-induced tangential stress in a two-layer fluid system

Interfacial waves and wave-induced tangential stress are studied for geostrophic small amplitude waves of two-layer fluid with a top free surface and a flat bottom. The solutions were deduced from the general form of linear fluid dynamic equations of two-layer fluid under the f-plane approximation, and wave-induced tangential stress were estimated based on the solutions obtained. As expected; the solutions derived from the present work include as special cases those obtained by Sun et al. (2004. Science in China, Set. D, 47(12): 1147-1154) for geostrophic small amplitude surface wave solutions and wave-induced tangential stress if tire density of the upper layer is much smaller than that of the lower layer. The results show that the interface and the surface will oscillate synchronously, and the influence of the earth's rotation both on the surface wave solutions and the interfacial wave solutions should be considered.

A SINGULAR EXACT SOLUTION FOR NONLINEAR SHALLOW-WATER ON A ROTATING EARTH

In this paper, we present an exact solution for nonlinear shallow water on a rotating planet. It is a kind of solitary waves with always negative wave height and a celerity smaller than linear shallow water propagation speed square-root gh. In fact, it propagates with a speed equal to (1 + a/h) square-root gh(1 + a/h) where a is the negative wave height. The lowest point of the water surface is a singular point where the first order derivative has a discontinuity of the first kind. The horizontal scale of the wave has actually no connection with the water depth.

南海西北部陆架海域内孤立波特征及机理研究

关于南海北部内孤立波的研究，现在是一个国际性研究热点，以往对南海北部海域的内孤立波的研究大都集中于南海东北部，即东沙-吕宋海峡海域。对于南海西北部文昌海域的内波现场调查研究几乎是空白。2005年4-10月中科院海洋所对南海西北部陆架海域进行了现场内波观测，获得了到目前为止国内连续观测时间最长、高分辨率、高质量的温度及流场数据。本文使用此次观测所获得的海流和温度资料，主要针对观测海域内孤立波特征及机理进行分析研究，取得了若干有重要科学意义的成果,主要为: 该海域是内孤立波多发地区，其中从2005年4月中旬到6月孤立波频繁出现且振幅较大，而6月中旬到9月中旬，内孤立波的发生频率明显下降，振幅也相对较小; 内孤立波的极性也表现出明显的季节性变化特征。研究发现内孤立波的季节性变化特征是与跃层的深浅和强弱密切相关的。 在2005年9月期间观测到了一系列的大振幅内孤立波，其中在同一测站的不同天内分别发现上凸型和下凹型内孤立波。研究表明这些内孤立波极有可能是由陆架坡折处的内潮因非线性和频散效应而局地产生的。这是首次通过现场观测确认南海西北部存在上凸型并且其为局地生成的内孤立波。 进一步分析发现在2005年8月21-23日，观测到了第二模态的内孤立波，这些内孤立波是与第二模态的内潮同步发生的，在连续两天内几乎相同的时刻分别观测到第二模态的内孤立波说明这些孤立波是潮致的。 在2005年4月22-28日发现长时间的强海流现象，强海流现象发生在当地的天文潮小潮期间，沿岸方向的流速明显大于垂直于岸方向的流速，通过分析表明强海流是由当地的内潮流引起的。 根据观测的温、流数据分析了内波场对台风的响应过程及内波谱特征，发现台风对观测站位的温度场和流场结构均有显著的影响。 这些在南海西北部的新发现和新认识对推动内孤立波的产生机制和应用技术的研究具有重要的学术价值。