Solitons and breathers are nonlinear modes that exist in a wide range of physical systems. They are fundamental solutions of a number of nonlinear wave evolution equations, including the unidirectional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). We report the observation of slanted solitons and breathers propagating at an angle with respect to the direction of propagation of the wave field. As the coherence is diagonal, the scale in the crest direction becomes finite; consequently, beam dynamics form. Spatiotemporal measurements of the water surface elevation are obtained by stereo-reconstructing the positions of the floating markers placed on a regular lattice and recorded with two synchronized high-speed cameras. Experimental results, based on the predictions obtained from the (2D + 1) hyperbolic NLSE equation, are in excellent agreement with the theory. Our study proves the existence of such unique and coherent wave packets and has serious implications for practical applications in optical sciences and physical oceanography. Moreover, unstable wave fields in this geometry may explain the formation of directional large-amplitude rogue waves with a finite crest length within a wide range of nonlinear dispersive media, such as Bose–Einstein condensates, solids, plasma, hydrodynamics, and optics.

Directional soliton and breather beams

Onorato M.;
2019-01-01

Abstract

Solitons and breathers are nonlinear modes that exist in a wide range of physical systems. They are fundamental solutions of a number of nonlinear wave evolution equations, including the unidirectional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). We report the observation of slanted solitons and breathers propagating at an angle with respect to the direction of propagation of the wave field. As the coherence is diagonal, the scale in the crest direction becomes finite; consequently, beam dynamics form. Spatiotemporal measurements of the water surface elevation are obtained by stereo-reconstructing the positions of the floating markers placed on a regular lattice and recorded with two synchronized high-speed cameras. Experimental results, based on the predictions obtained from the (2D + 1) hyperbolic NLSE equation, are in excellent agreement with the theory. Our study proves the existence of such unique and coherent wave packets and has serious implications for practical applications in optical sciences and physical oceanography. Moreover, unstable wave fields in this geometry may explain the formation of directional large-amplitude rogue waves with a finite crest length within a wide range of nonlinear dispersive media, such as Bose–Einstein condensates, solids, plasma, hydrodynamics, and optics.
2019
116
20
9759
9763
Directional localizations; Extreme events; Nonlinear waves; Solitons
Chabchoub A.; Mozumi K.; Hoffmann N.; Babanin A.V.; Toffoli A.; Steer J.N.; van den Bremer T.S.; Akhmediev N.; Onorato M.; Waseda T.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2019_Chabchoub_et_al_PNAS.pdf

Accesso aperto

Tipo di file: PDF EDITORIALE
Dimensione 1.58 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.58 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1765645
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 0
  • Scopus 22
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 16
social impact