A new system of equations which predicts the evolution of a wave packet due to a fluid-fluid interaction under a narrow bandwidth assumption

Abstract

The problem of the capillary-gravity waves which may arise at an interface between two stratified fluids of different densities is investigated. Particular attention is paid to the case when two different wave modes move at the same speed and to the wave train produced by the ensuing interaction. In contrast to most previous studies, the wave steepness and the wave bandwidth are not taken to be of the same order of magnitude, but the latter is of one order smaller. This leads to a system of nonlinear evolution equations which can be used to predict the subsequent progression of the wave field. These equations may be compared with the more usual nonlinear Schrödinger set which are valid under the equal bandwidth assumption and also a recently derived set which describe broader bandwidth waves. A large class of solutions to the equations is found and the corresponding wave profiles are presented.