Generation of solitary waves by the MHD method

Yu. B. Kolesnikov - V. A. Miroshnikov

Institute of Physics, Latvian University, Salaspils-1, LV-2169, Latvia

Abstract
A method is proposed for the generation of solitary waves. The method enables to create solitary waves in a weakly conducting medium by crossed electric and magnetic fields. Unlike methods for the solitary wave generation by a piston or by a movable gate the MHD method enables to diminish considerably disturbances of an initial profile of liquid free surface. Solitary waves like a soliton and like a bore were produced by the named method. Experimental results are compared to solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries equation in generalized functions. Presented analysis of the physical sense of these solutions bases on the fact that the initial problem is reduced to a motion of a system with one degree of freedom in a potential field. Figs 6, refs 11.