Splash singularity for water waves

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jan 17;109(3):733-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1115948108. Epub 2012 Jan 4.

Abstract

We exhibit smooth initial data for the two-dimensional (2D) water-wave equation for which we prove that smoothness of the interface breaks down in finite time. Moreover, we show a stability result together with numerical evidence that there exist solutions of the 2D water-wave equation that start from a graph, turn over, and collapse in a splash singularity (self-intersecting curve in one point) in finite time.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.