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arXiv · 1004.5546

Horizon effects with surface waves on moving water

Germain Rousseaux·Philippe Maissa·Christian Mathis·Pierre Coullet·Thomas G. Philbin·Ulf Leonhardt
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Abstract

Surface waves on a stationary flow of water are considered, in a linear model that includes the surface tension of the fluid. The resulting gravity-capillary waves experience a rich array of horizon effects when propagating against the flow. In some cases three horizons (points where the group velocity of the wave reverses) exist for waves with a single laboratory frequency. Some of these effects are familiar in fluid mechanics under the name of wave blocking, but other aspects, in particular waves with negative co-moving frequency and the Hawking effect, were overlooked until surface waves were investigated as examples of analogue gravity [Schützhold R and Unruh W G 2002 Phys. Rev. D 66 044019]. A comprehensive presentation of the various horizon effects for gravity-capillary waves is given, with emphasis on the deep water/short wavelength case kh>>1 where many analytical results can be derived. A similarity of the state space of the waves to that of a thermodynamic system is pointed out.

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Germain Rousseaux, Philippe Maissa, Christian Mathis, Pierre Coullet, Thomas G. Philbin, Ulf Leonhardt. 2010-10-01. Horizon effects with surface waves on moving water. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630%2F12%2F9%2F095018

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