solitary wave
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A self-reinforcing, localized wave packet: In physics, a solitary wave is a single, stable, and coherent wave that maintains its shape and speed while traveling over long distances. It arises in nonlinear systems and is characterized by a balance between nonlinear and dispersive effects. 2. A soliton: This term is often used synonymously with "soliton," referring specifically to a solitary wave that preserves its form after colliding with another similar wave.
Usage Examples
- The researcher observed a solitary wave propagating along the water channel without changing its profile.
- In fiber-optic communications, a solitary wave (or optical soliton) can carry data with minimal distortion.
- The mathematical model successfully predicted the formation of a solitary wave in the plasma.
Advanced Usage
- "Soliton" as a specific type: While often used interchangeably, "soliton" can imply the additional property of elastic collision. A solitary wave that survives collisions unchanged is more precisely called a soliton.
- Contexts of occurrence: The term is used in specific scientific contexts describing phenomena in fluids (e.g., water waves), optics (light in fibers), condensed matter physics, and biological systems (e.g., nerve signal propagation).
Variants and Related Words
- Soliton (n): A solitary wave that exhibits particle-like properties, such as maintaining its identity after a collision with another soliton.
- Wave packet (n): A more general term for a short group of waves; a solitary wave is a specific, stable type of wave packet.
Synonyms
- Soliton
- Solitary pulse
- Localized wave
Related Phrases and Concepts
- Nonlinear system: A system where the output is not directly proportional to the input; the essential environment for solitary waves to form.
- Dispersion: The phenomenon where waves of different frequencies travel at different speeds, which, when balanced by nonlinearity, allows for a solitary wave.
- Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation: A famous mathematical model that describes the evolution of solitary waves in shallow water.
Noun
- (physics) a quantum of energy or quasiparticle that can be propagated as a traveling wave in nonlinear systems and is neither preceded nor followed by another such disturbance; does not obey the superposition principle and does not dissipate
- soliton waves can travel long distances with little loss of energy or structure