Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou recurrence and cascading mechanism for resonant three-wave interactions.

Abstract

Evolution of resonant three-wave interaction is governed by quadratic nonlinearities. While propagating localized modes and inverse scattering mechanisms have been studied, transient states such as rogue waves and breathers are not fully understood. Modulation instability modes can trigger growth of disturbances and the eventual development of breathers. Here we study computationally the dynamics beyond the first formation of breathers, and demonstrate repeating patterns of breathers as a manifestation of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou recurrence (FPUT). While nonlinearity governs the actual dynamics, the range of wave numbers for modulation instability remains a useful indicator. Depending on the stability characteristics of the fundamental mode and the higher-order harmonics ("sidebands"), "regular" and "staggered" FPUT patterns can arise. A "cascading mechanism" provides analytical verification, as the fundamental and sideband modes attain the same magnitude at one particular instant, signifying the first occurrence of a breather. A triangular spectrum is also computed, similar to experimental observations of optical pulses. Such spectra can elucidate the spreading of energy among the sidebands and components of the triad resonance. The concept of "effective energy" is examined and the eigenvalues of the inverse scattering mechanism are computed. Both approaches are utilized to correlate with the occurrence of regular or staggered FPUT. These numerical and analytical studies can enhance our understanding of wave interactions in fluid mechanics and optics.