Nonlinear dynamics of interfacial waves (Q1064203)

Results on the stability of a steady two-dimensional interfacial gravity wave of finite amplitude to infinitesimal three-dimensional disturbances in the presence of a current jump are presented. It is found that the waves are unstable, and the instability is predominantly two-dimensional for small amplitudes, but becomes predominantly three-dimensional for larger amplitudes. In addition, for sufficiently large amplitude, a new long wave instability develops due to subharmonic distortions of the eigenfunctions of the Kelvin-Helmholtz short wave instability.