Abstract
We report a new type of standing gravity wave of large amplitude, having alternatively the shape of a star and of a polygon. This wave is observed by means of a laboratory experiment by vertically vibrating a tank. The symmetry of the star (i.e., the number of branches) is independent of the container form and size, and can be changed according to the amplitude and frequency of the vibration. We show that a nonlinear resonant coupling between three gravity waves can be envisaged to trigger the observed symmetry breaking, although more complex interactions certainly take place in the final periodic state.
- Received 26 June 2012
- Corrected 16 April 2013
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.094502
© 2013 American Physical Society
Corrections
16 April 2013
Erratum
Publisher’s Note: Observation of Star-Shaped Surface Gravity Waves [Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 094502 (2013)]
Jean Rajchenbach, Didier Clamond, and Alphonse Leroux
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 199901 (2013)
Synopsis
Star-Shaped Waves
Published 28 February 2013
Vertical shaking of a liquid-filled container can generate a standing wave pattern of stars and polygons.
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