Schrodinger Waves - The cat knows they are real...
http://www.sciy.org/blog/SCIENCETECH/COMPLEXITYTHEORY/_archives/2007/2/14/2737024.html
“No current could have created such huge waves. There is none in that part of the Atlantic. Clearly, there was another effect investigators needed to find. Except someone already had: it existed (on paper at least) in the world of quantum physics. Al Osborne is a wave mathematician with 30 years experience devising equations to describe open ocean wave patterns. Quantum physics has at its heart a concept called the Schrodinger Equation, a way of expressing the probability of something happening that is far more complex than the simple linear model. Al’s theory is based on the notion that in certain unstable conditions, waves can steal energy from their neighbours. Adjacent waves shrink while the one at the focus can grow to an enormous size. His modified Schrodinger Equation had been rejected in the past as implausible, but with research attention centred on analysing these rogue waves - including global satellite radar surveillance by the new European Remote Sensing Satellite - data began to emerge backing his case. When Al came across the New Year’s Day 1985 wave profiles from the Draupner oil rig, he saw his mathematical model played out in the real world.
Al’s work - if correct - suggests that there are two kinds of waves out on the high seas; the classical undulating type described by the linear model and an unstable non-linear monster - a wave that at any time can start sucking up energy from waves around it to become a towering freak. The consequences for ship design could be stark.”
“Schrodinger Waves - The cat knows they are real”
Interesting, reminds me of a story in a Charleston, SC newspaper, from a local shrimper. He was several miles off shore when he noticed an unusual smell and it became noticiable warmer. Shortly after this happened he realized he was surrounded by an immense wall of water. After seveal minutes everything returned to normal. Don’t know if he was spinning a yarn (sea story), had a bad trip (illicit substances) or if something had happened to really spook this fellow.
Before this happened, also in the Charleston area, we had a series of “air booms” which origninated southeast of our location. There was speculation that they were “sonic booms”, as well as “natural phenoma” but no official cause was ever released. There is still much to learn and many things we have yet to understand.
“Al’s work - if correct - suggests that there are two kinds of waves out on the high seas; the classical undulating type described by the linear model and an unstable non-linear monster - a wave that at any time can start sucking up energy from waves around it to become a towering freak. The consequences for ship design could be stark.”
Gee - makes it a good time to take a ride on the new, freakishly huge Cruise Ships just being built. Wonder what a wave like that will do to a 14-story liner with 5,400 people in it?