Two-Dimensional Interaction of Internal Solitary Waves in a Two-Layer Fluid

Abstract

Two-dimensional interaction of internal solitary waves is studied for a two-layer fluid with a thickness ratio close to a certain critical one depending on the density ratio. It is described by a Modified Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (MKP) equation, provided the propagation directions of the waves are close to each other. The MKP equation is investigated numerically and it is found that the interaction almost satisfying the condition of soliton resonance occurs when the wave amplitudes are small. The interaction is qualitatively similar to the soliton resonance in the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) equation except that a deformation of the newly generated waves and a radiation can be seen.